Special roles for doctors volunteering in PM's Corona Relief Tiger Force: Dr Mirza.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Monday said the government will assign "specific" roles to doctors who had volunteered to be part of Prime Minister's Corona Relief Tiger Force , adding that their expertise can be utilised in ensuring implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) among other things.

Speaking alongside Prime Minister Imran Khan during prime minister's address to the volunteer force, Mirza revealed that around 17,000 medical professionals, including 1,800 doctors, had volunteered for the Corona Relief Tiger Force.

"We sent these medical professionals a special questionnaire and on the basis of their answers and our own thinking, the government will seek their help in effective implementation of SOPs and social distancing measures and specialised monitoring of quarantine and isolation centres," Mirza said.

Mirza also said a majority of the 1,800 doctors will work for the government's digital telehealth initiative so that they can give advice to patients over the phone.

"No one really knows how long this disease will last. Therefore, everyone needs to play their role," Mirza said, as he reminded the nation of the importance of precautionary measures.

PM outlines basic responsibilities of force

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan outlined the basic responsibilities of the Corona Relief Tiger Force, saying that the force ought to strike a balance between saving people from the virus and saving them from hunger and unemployment.

"This tiger force, meaning this volunteer force, was formed to meet the challenges presented by this lethal pandemic. The entire world is being forced to take...