AIDS' screening ordered for TB patients across Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Health Department on Friday decided to conduct AIDS screening tests of tuberculosis patients across the province, ARY News reported.

Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid while chairing a meeting decided to conduct HIV tests of all patients suffering from tuberculosis.

The meeting was told that HIV testing kits had been dispatched to all TB Control Program Centers at district level and screening tests would be started from Monday.

“Screening process should be completed within 30 days and no test should be conducted without permission of the patient” directed the health minister.

The minister pointed out that international research has found that TB patients were more vulnerable to HIV and presently more than 1 million TB patients are being treated in the Punjab so conducting AIDS screening test could help health department update AIDS related data”.

The health minister further said that at least 644 TB treatment centres were working across the province who would facilitate in AIDS testing process. She instructed the officials that AIDS testing task should be completed within time frame.

It is pertinent to note here that since assuming charge of the provincial health ministry, Yasmin Rashid has time and again expressed her resolve to deliver on PM Imran Khan’s 100-day plan.

Two days ago, while meeting Punjab Assembly’s deputy speaker, Yasmin Rashid said that PTI government has initiated reforms in health sector on war footing across the province.

She maintained that the health ministry is trying to improve delivery service of health department and necessary legislation would be promulgated.