MAY 15; ISLAMABAD: UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HEALTH FOR ALL IN AJK IS A PRIORITY, MASOOD KHAN

President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan, has said that universal access to health for all in AJK is a priority and the Government will make every effort to provide quality health services in even the most remotest areas of the state.

The President - as the Chancellor of Public Sector Universities of AJK - made these remarks while addressing the 1st Convocation of the Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College here in Mirpur.

Congratulating the graduating students, the President said that today marks a major milestone in their academic careers. He said this achievement is a culmination of the efforts of your parents and teachers; and you all should be grateful to their dedication and selfless contributions. He also congratulated the parents, the college faculty and management on this great achievement.

The President said that completion of this degree also marks the beginning of a new journey. He said that as doctors you are masiahs for your patients and its your foremost responsibility to utilise your knowledge and use benign techniques in serving humanity by curing and healing them,constructively, upholding and following the highest moral and ethical traditions of medicine. Referring to the Hippocratic Oath, he advised them to selflessly serve humanity and ensure strict confidentiality of their patients.

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President Masood Khan said that the AJK is fast developing in all sectors and it is also our priority to build modern health facilities and strengthen existing health infrastructures at divisions, district and subdivisions of AJK.

"Universal access to health and provision of modern health facilities will be ensured in all areas however remote they may be" he said.

President AJK said that health is a designated sustainable development goal and the Government is focused on providing access to health facilities to the remote areas which he said will be made possible by using tele-medicine. He informed that AJK Government as specified funds for tele-medicine in the current Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

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The President urged the students to focus on enhancing their professional competence through acquiring education based on the latest research and innovation in the field of medicine. He also said that new postgraduate courses in medicine will be introduced and constructive steps will be made to establish a medical university in AJK. He said that our focus shall be on quality education and introducing modern curriculum.

The President said that medical colleges in AJK shall be made into quality and premium institutions and will therefore become competitive both nationally and regionally. President AJK on the occasion also awarded the high achievers medals and distinction certificates.

The convocation ceremony was addressed by Prof. Dr. Kaleem Abbasi, Vice Chancellor University of AJK Muzaffarabad and Prof. Dr Imran Azam Butt, Principal Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College who also presented a summary on the performance and achievement of the college.

The event was attended by Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed, Minister Sports, Youth and Culture; Prof. Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman, VC MUST, Prof. Dr. man Abdur Rasheed, Founding Principal of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College; Deans; faculty members; representatives of the district administration; a large number of students and parents.