The National Medical Newspaper CORONAVIRUS IN PAKISTAN CONFIRMED CASES 905,852 REPORTED DEATH 20,400 SINDH PUNJAB 310,557 335,577 Pakistans First ISLAMABAD BALOCHISTAN Independent 80,529 24,638 Medical Periodical from KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA AJK/GB Karachi 130,187 18,852 / 5,512 Vol. 53 No. 22 May 1-14, 2021 RECOVERED CASES Published Fortnightly Reg. No. ID. MC-153 ISSN 1728-1520 Controlled Circulation 823,157 *Stats as of 25 May, 2021 - 10:03am, Provided by Ministry Edhi Foundation PMA ready to DRAP approves countrys of National Health Services Regulations & Coordination, Inside offers assistance to ... 02 provide technical ... 03 first ICU ventilator ... 12 Government of Pakistan Pakistan starts receiving vaccine under Covax MN Report the diasporas of the two countries ISLAMABAD - The first batch of interact closely in Gulf states. over 1.2 million doses of Oxford- According to the NCOC statement, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines 1.23 million doses of AstraZeneca reached the country on Saturday vaccine reached Islamabad under the Covax scheme as through the Covax programme. another 120 people fell victim to Covax is an alliance set up by the virus. Gavi, Coalition for Epidemic by an additional 1,236,000 doses "In this unprecedented crisis, we On the other hand, the Drug Preparedness Innovations and the in a few days. It added that the appreciate Covax and Gavi's Regulatory Authority of Pakistan World Health Organisation in April doses would serve to support the (Global Alliance for Vaccines and (DRAP) has notified a formula to last year. The alliance has pledged government's ongoing drive to Immunisation) contribution to the fix prices of COVID-19 vaccines. to provide free vaccine to 20 per bring the pandemic to an end. collective effort to fight COVID-19 Meanwhile, all educational cent of the population of different "Further allocations from June in Pakistan," Dr Sultan said. institutions in the country will countries, including Pakistan. onwards will be confirmed in due "Sometimes, such crises propel remain closed till May 23, the "It aims to provide at least two course. The goal of the Covax innovation and to this end, we were National Command and Operation billion doses of approved COVID- facility is to supply Pakistan with able to quickly expand the capacity Centre (NCOC) has announced. 19 vaccines by the end of 2021, enough doses to vaccinate 20pc of the Expanded Programme on As Pakistan continues to witness enabling the protection of frontline of the population depending on Immunisation's (EPI) facilities to over 100 COVID-related deaths healthcare and social workers, as availability," the statement added. vaccinate our eligible population daily for a couple of weeks now, a well as other high-risk and Special Assistant to the Prime against COVID-19. Recently, we research centre in Karachi on vulnerable groups in what will be Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan have been administering almost Saturday expressed concern that the largest immunisation campaign received the consignment at the 200,000 doses a day and we will there was a high possibility that in history," the statement said. National Emergency Operations be able to increase to 500,000 the variant that has claimed It said the first consignment Centre headquarters with doses a day very soon," he added. thousands of lives in India has consisted of 1,238,400 vaccine representatives from Covax's Dr Sultan also urged everyone already reached Pakistan since doses, which would be followed technical and funding partners. Continued on Page 10 24-hour mega vaccination centre at Founder: Ayaz Mahmood Expo Centre becomes operational Publisher: M Hassan Mahmood MN Report Chief Executive: Syed Hashim Hasan vaccination centres established /MedicalNewsPk KARACHI - The Sindh in Karachi and other parts of Online Editor: Haseeb Uddin /MedicalNewsPk government is set to take a Sindh, a huge facility was set to Assistant Editor: major leap in the ongoing start its operation, which could Dr Muattar Hanif nationwide COVID-19 expedite the process manifold. Honorary Advisor: Dr Sulman Akhtur vaccination drive by opening "We can vaccinate up to 25,000 Manager Production a massive facility at the Expo people in a day," said Dr Sohail & Coordination: M Irfan Ali medicalnewspk.com Centre recently, said to be Sheikh of the Sindh health Advertising Manager the largest in the country, department who is looking after Tel: 021-35833172 SM Shakil (0300-2559344) 021-35872289 where an estimated 25,000 the operation of the newly Business Executives people could be inoculated in a Officials and sources said on established vaccination centre at Khawaja Akhlaq Ahmed (0342-2393917) day with round-the-clock service Saturday that the month-long the Expo Centre. `This would be Haroon Rashid (Islamabad: 0300-9710774) to be offered to visitors registered effort of the Sindh health a huge and nrst of its kind [project] Designing & Layout by the federal government for the department finally started yielding in the province. I am not sure Sh M Sadiq Ali jabs. results and after a number of Continued on Page 10 COVID-19 vaccination needs to be sped up: PIMA MN Report KARACHI - The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) Karachi has expressed concern over the slow COVID-19 vaccination drive in Pakistan and urged the concerned authorities to accelerate the vaccination drive. Edhi Foundation offers assistance to India to counter the COVID emergency These views were expressed by President PIMA MN Report with you greatly, and during this strenuous Karachi, Prof Dr Abdullah Mutaki, in a press KARACHI - Head of Edhi Foundation, time, we would like to extend our help in conference held at the Karachi Press Club. Prof Faisal Edhi, expressed grave concern over the form of a fleet of 50 ambulances along Dr Sohail Akhter, Dr Shayan Shadmani, Dr the coronavirus situation in India and with our services to assist you in addressing Azizullah Khan, Dr Kashif Shazli and Dr Zeeshan offered his help in the form of a fleet of 50 and further circumventing the current health Ansari were also present on this occasion. ambulances along with a team to deal with conditions. Prof Dr Abdullah Mutaki said Pakistan is passing through a heightened wave of COVID-19 with the COVID-19 emergency. Faisal Edhi, the Managing Trustee of the over 5000 cases reported daily and a test positivity In a letter written to the Prime Minister of Edhi Foundation, personally offered to lead rate of over 10 per cent. The situation in some India, Narendra Modi, Faisal Edhi said that and manage the humanitarian team from cities of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the Edhi Foundation had been closely his organization. The Edhi organization worse than it was at the start of the pandemic. following the current impact that the COVID- understands the gravity of the situation There is an acute shortage of hospitals beds for 19 crisis has had on the people of India. and wishes to lend India its support without sick patients. Evidence of new strains spreading We are very sorry to hear about the any inconvenience, which is why it will faster and affecting younger people is adding to exceptionally heavy impact that the arrange all the necessary supplies that the the already huge problems. pandemic has had on your country, where team needs to assist the people of India. Apart from Punjab and KP, he informed that a tremendous number of people are The Edhi Foundation is not requesting any COVID-19 cases are also increasing in Karachi suffering immensely. other assistance from India as it is willing for a couple of weeks, and there is an urgent As a neighbouring friend, we sympathize Continued on Page 10 need to strictly implement SOPs to prevent the virus from spreading in the Sindh province in the coming months. PIMA rejects DRAPs notification He also expressed concern over the slow vaccination drive in the country as the overall MN Report coverage of vaccination in Pakistan is KARACHI - The Pakistan disappointingly low at below one per cent. This Islamic Medical Association is lower than India (8%), Bangladesh and Sri (PIMA) has expressed deep Lanka (4%). As per the government figure, only concern over the DRAP's 1.5 million doses out of 2.5million procured from notification which directed China mainly have been given to roughly 0.8 doctors to prescribe generic million in a population of 220 million. names of medicines instead Prof Sohail Akhter said about 70 per cent of the of their brand name. population of the country should be vaccinated; Dr Khubaib Shahid, Central however, the vaccination drive is very slow in the President of the PIMA, in a country. He suggested the government increase statement, said that COVID-19 vaccination centres and allowed private unplanned actions would is taking place in many stores that have no quality welfare organizations like the Al-Khidmat to import COVID-19 vaccines to fasten the vaccination have a negative impact on countries of the world, but control experience. As a drive. the healthcare system. It is it has only become possible result, a new door of Dr Azizullah Khan said four Indian companies not a jurisdiction of the after systematic planning corruption or have been manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine, DRAP to issue instructions and the establishment of mismanagement may and Pakistan must take the initiative to to doctors to write trade infrastructure. open, and it will affect only manufacture the vaccine as per the country's names or generic names of There should be specified the patient or common man. requirement. He recommended the vaccination drugs. Regulatory bodies, appropriate procedures to The PIMA strongly of teachers and professors on an urgent basis including the Pakistan test the quality of hundreds condemns any such move.