Islamabad: In a significant collaboration with the United Kingdom, Pakistan has unveiled a new initiative to integrate its health and population policies, aiming to address major public health challenges and bolster primary care systems across the nation.
According to Press Information Department, the announcement came during an event led by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, where Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad, and Federal Health Secretary Mr. Nadeem Mahbub, alongside British High Commissioner Ms. Jane Marriott, discussed the achievements and future direction under Pakistan’s National Health Vision for 2016-25. The discussions also marked the beginning of a new Health and Population Policy for Pakistan for the period 2025-34.
The policy review highlighted the need for a unified approach to health and population management to effectively tackle issues such as disease prevention, healthcare delivery, and rapid population growth. The new policy aims to enhance community awareness, improve the efficiency of hospitals, expand the use of digital technologies in healthcare, and ensure the availability of essential medicines.
Key recommendations from the review include strengthening primary health care, enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration, and building resilient health systems to manage health emergencies more effectively. The British High Commissioner praised Pakistan’s potential in healthcare provision but emphasized the ongoing need for comprehensive sectoral collaboration to overcome existing challenges.