Islamabad: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MNHSRand C), alongside the Health Services Academy (HSA), recently hosted a Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting to discuss the formulation of Pakistan’s National Genomic Policy. This significant gathering attracted national and international experts from fields such as genomics, genetics, molecular biology, public health, and health policy. Participants hailed from esteemed institutions including Aga Khan University, Quaid-i-Azam University, CEMB Lahore, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and collectively endorsed the policy as a pivotal development for Pakistan’s healthcare system.
According to Press Information Department, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Syed Mustafa Kamal, stressed the importance of shifting Pakistan’s healthcare approach from treatment to prevention. He underscored the potential of genomics, early screening, and precision medicine in alleviating inherited and preventable diseases, thereby reinforcing national health security.
Prof. Dr. Tariq Mahmood Ali, Registrar of the Health Services Academy, presented data highlighting Pakistan’s substantial but often overlooked burden of genomic diseases. He pointed out that the high rate of consanguineous marriages significantly elevates the risk of genetic disorders. The country currently has over 10 million thalassemia carriers, with annual new cases ranging from 7,000 to 10,000, and an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 patients living with the disease. These health challenges are estimated to cost Pakistan between PKR 200-300 billion annually, with projections reaching PKR 1 trillion per year by 2050 if unaddressed.
Prof. Dr. Shahid Mahmood Baig, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences at HSA, introduced the draft National Genomic Policy, proposing a comprehensive plan including a National Public Health Genomics Program, genomic surveillance, workforce development, local diagnostic capability, and preventive screening programs. He highlighted the economic benefits of such initiatives, citing evidence that preventive screening offers a significant return on investment and that thalassemia prevention programs could substantially decrease affected births.
The meeting drew a diverse group of professionals, including professors, genomic scientists, geneticists, molecular biologists, public health experts, and policymakers from leading institutions both nationally and internationally. Attendees commended the Ministry of Health for spearheading the development of Pakistan’s inaugural National Genomic Policy. They agreed that implementing the policy could reduce healthcare costs, lessen disease burdens, and strengthen national health security, thus aligning Pakistan with countries embracing modern precision healthcare. The consultation concluded with detailed recommendations to enhance genomic governance, research, screening, and equitable access to genomic services across the nation.