KARACHI: The Standing Committee on Health, Sindh Provincial Assembly, has recently approved the draft 'Sindh Tele-medicine and TeleHealth Bill 2021'.
Dr Sohrab Sirki, Chairman, Standing Committee, presided over the meeting the draft was approved. Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh Health Minister, and Qasim Soomro, Parliamentary Secretary, were also present.
The bill would be presented in the next session of the assembly for legislation. The act would be applicable across the province immediately once passed by the assembly.
The bill aims to facilitate, enhance and develop access to healthcare through distant health platforms and alleviate the shortage of healthcare professionals.
Its main features include the registration of the healthcare professionals providing telehealth services. The registered healthcare professionals would be called 'Registered Medical Practitioners' (RMPs).
Dr Pechuho said Telemedicine was an essential need today, and the bill would also help those female doctors who were unable to practice due to personal issues.
The RMPs could also access rescue ambulance services in an emergency and could only prescribe Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approved medicines via teleconsultation.
