KABUL (PAN): Syed Mohammad Amin Fatimie, President Hamid Karzai's nominee for health portfolio, on Tuesday said access to basic healthcare services for all people would be increased by 10 per cent and secondary health services by 30 per cent which would consequently help decline mortality rate by 40 per cent over the next five year. Seeking a vote of confidence from the Wolesi Jirga, Fatimie said the health ministry had drafted a five-year plan which would ensure people's access to basic health services. "The plan, which will prove a milestone in the healthcare journey, will soon be finalised," the minister-designate told the parliamentarians. President Hamid Karzai has introduced 23 new cabinet members to the lower house for a trust vote on Saturday. Among the new members appeared before the house on Monday were Abdul Rahim Wardak, Defence, Ghulam Faruq Wardak education and Sarwar Danish justice ministers, who revealed their plans and responded to the questions posed by MPs. On Tuesday, Sayed Muhammad Amin Fatimie, Public Health, Dr. Obaidullah Obaid, higher education, Muhammad Hanif Atmar, Interior and Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal Finance ministers-designate presented their plans. Fatimie, who was Minister for Public Health in the previous cabinet, addressed to the house. He said with the implementation of the five-year plan, basic health services would be increased by 10 per cent while secondary health services by 30 per cent. According to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the population coverage of basic health services was 85 per cent while of the secondary health services 30 per cent. He said vaccines for pneumococcal pneumonia and Rota virus would be included in the mass immunisation package and the vaccination coverage would be increased by 90 per cent over the next five years. The vaccination coverage in the country is 90 per cent with TB, whooping cough, diphtheria, Tetanus, polio, measles and Hepatitis-B as the current national mass immunization package. He said with vaccination coverage enhancement, each year 35000 children could be rescued from dying. He said the establishment of 152 new laboratories, 305 healthcare centers and hospitals, 4 midwives training centres, 46 diagnostic centres and constructions of provincial health department buildings were part of the proposed five-year plan. Currently there are 1775 health centers and hospitals operational in the country, with 30 midwives training schools, 12 nursing schools and over 3000 nurses and midwives serving the sector. He said lack of health experts, fund for building construction, insecure conditions and geographical locations in some parts of the country were the challenges the ministry was facing. MPs questioned the proposed health minister on various issues. Responding to a question, Fatimie said that the country had been faced with health province in the past, and it would take time to address every issue. About the poor health services, he replied according the WHO, each person needed 25 to 28 USD per annum for health services while the international community provided only 6.5 USD for each Afghan during the last five years. About air ambulances, he said US had pledged three aircrafts for air ambulance services. About low quality of medicines, Fatimie said a national board had been established to prevent import and production of low quality medicine and food. He ruled out any discrimination in employment of health officials. About the declaration of a public heath emergency on the prevalence of sine flu influenza, he said it was not a political game as 946 positive cases had so far been registered and 17 people lost their lives due to the disease. He said the WHO predicted 600,000 people could be infected with the disease. mnm/ma