PESHAWAR:Allied Health Sciences here on Wednesday conducted a consensus workshop at video conference room of Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar to build agreement among relevant stakeholders for the integration of physical rehabilitation services into primary health systems in Pakistan.
Prof Haider Darain, Dean Allied Health Sciences beside CEO Paraplegic Centre, Principal Rehman College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rehabilitation Director LRH, Manager Provincial Rehabilitation Program, Director IPMR, representatives from ICRC and other relevant dignitaries attended the workshop.
The facilitator gave a brief introduction of the project ReLAB-HS. In late 2020, the USAID funded comprehensive five-year program of ReLAB-HS was introduced.
It was told that the program aimed to respond to the escalating need for physical rehabilitation services in low and middle-income countries. Pakistan is one the such countries which has been included in the program.
Khyber Medical University, Peshawar signed an MoU with Handicap International for implementing some of the activities of the program. It is pertinent to mention ‘The Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne’ is one of the key technical facilitators for activities which will be carried out by Khyber Medical University, Peshawar.
The participants agreed to develop policies for the integration of physical rehabilitation services at primary healthcare including Tehsil Headquarter Hospitals (THQ), Rural Health Centres (RHCs) and Basic Health Unit (BHUs).
It was agreed upon that strong lobbying is needed for making such policies and its implementation. The participants identified lack of coordination among medical, nursing, paramedical and rehabilitation team as one of the major issues faced by the health care system in the country.