ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for National Health Services Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath vowed on Tuesday to address the health issues faced by the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as both cities depend on each other.

He was chairing a high-level meeting with the teams of the district health officer and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to address critical healthcare challenges in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) as well as Rawalpindi.

The meeting focused on key initiatives to enhance healthcare service delivery and immunisation efforts in the region. As part of the discussions, the Islamabad DHO will implement a structured grading system for basic health units (BHUs), rural health centres (RHCs), and community health centres (CHCs) to assess their performance and ensure the provision of essential services.

To enhance data-driven decision-making, the DHO will also scale up the District Health Information System (DHIS2) for real-time reporting, enabling timely interventions.

Polio Oversight Board chief to visit Pakistan in July, to meet PM Shehbaz

Addressing severe human resource shortages in rural areas, the minister directed that an adequate number of vaccinators be deployed ahead of the upcoming big catch-up (BCU) immunisation campaign in April 2025.

Additionally, to improve healthcare accessibility, the DHO will also organise regular medical camps in CDA-administered areas before the BCU campaign in April.

Dr Bharath emphasised the urgency of these initiatives and directed the stakeholders to take prompt action. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and immunisation coverage to improve public health outcomes in ICT and Rawalpindi.

Gates Foundation

Meanwhile, the Gates Foundation extended its congratulations to Mustafa Kamal on his recent appointment as the federal minister of national health services.

In a letter to the minister, Dr Christopher J. Elias, president of the Gates Foundation, expressed confidence in Mr Kamal’s leadership and hoped for significant progress in advancing health outcomes across the country.

According to a statement, the foundation has long valued its partnership with the Government of Pakistan, particularly in the areas of health system strengthening, tackling infectious diseases, and improving maternal and child health. A key focus of this collaboration has been the eradication of polio, where Pakistan’s leadership and commitment have been pivotal.

Dr Elias praised the minister’s swift engagement with the National Emergency Operations Centre and the polio team in Karachi, signalling the urgency with which the new leadership plans to tackle this critical issue.

In July, Dr Elias will visit Islamabad in his capacity as the chair of the Polio Oversight Board, accompanied by the regional directors of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF. During the visit, the focus will be on polio eradication, with a meeting scheduled with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to the statement, the Gates Foundation is driven by the belief that every life has equal value and in partnership with others, it aims to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025