Islamabad, Health professionals, government representatives, and key stakeholders gathered for a three-day workshop to create the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) in Punjab, highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing its readiness for health threats and disease outbreaks.
According to Press Information Department, the workshop, supported by health security partners and international organizations, featured notable speakers including Dr. Muhammad Ilyas, Professor Javaid Akram, Dr. Jamal Nasir, and Federal Minister for Health Dr. Nadeem Jan. The event, moderated by Dr. Yadullah, focused on Pakistan’s obligations as a signatory to the International Health Regulations and its efforts to strengthen core health capacities. The country is actively developing the NAPHS for the next five years, incorporating recommendations from the Joint External Evaluation and provincial consultations to align with global health security priorities.
Participants acknowledged the support of various partners like USAID, FCDO, UKHSA, CDC, JSI, and others in enhancing Pakistan’s health security. Pakistan plans to submit its pandemic preparedness proposal to the World Bank by March 17, 2024, based on the JEE self-evaluation report 2023, to secure funding for identified priority areas. Professor Javaid Akram assured government backing in securing domestic resources for the plan, emphasizing the need for robust core capacities to manage disease outbreaks. Dr. Jamal Nair discussed the importance of Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response, and Dr. Nasir suggested that development partners align their support with provincial needs.
Federal Minister for Health, Dr. Nadeem Jan, thanked participants and partners for their contribution to this significant initiative. He highlighted Pakistan’s recent hosting of the Global Health Security Summit, focusing on pandemic preparedness financing, vaccine equity, and partnerships with international organizations. Dr. Jan stressed the crucial role of health security in overall security and the need for effective implementation and monitoring of the action plan developed by the provinces.
The workshop is expected to culminate in finalizing recommendations for the JEE report 2023, further advancing Pakistan’s commitment to health security.