Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) has been at the front lines since the COVID-19 wreaked havoc across the United States.
Impressed by the services of APPNA, US Department of State lauded their response and efforts in combating the coronavirus pandemic.
"These doctors from our Pakistani-American community are not just serving on the front lines in hospitals, they are also organizing food and PPE donations in communities across the US and Pakistan", tweeted the US government department.
"US Department of State acknowledges services and philanthropic activities of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America", Dr. Arshad Rehan responded to US State Department on Twitter. Arshad Rehan has served as a cardiology specialist in Wooster, Ohio and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area. His health services span over 20 years.
It is noteworthy that APPNA has had been endorsing calls by doctors in Pakistan for provision of safety equipment. Be it protesting doctors in Quetta or doctors' strikes in Lahore, APPNA has had stood by medical community while stressing upon the Pakistani government to be responsive to their woes and demands. It has been giving proposals to the government for improving health services especially amid corona pandemic.
It is also pertinent to recall that first time in the 42-year history in January 2020, APPNA was recognized at the state level as an institution. PM Imran Khan had accepted the proposal of APPNA to create an official role for APPNA in healthcare and medical education in Pakistan at the governmental and institutional level.