ISLAMABAD: Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz said the role of the triad of science, technology and innovation (STI) in driving a sustainable and resilient recovery from the devastating impacts of Covid-19 was equally crucial, especially in the area of health.

Speaking during the 24th annual session of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), Mr Faraz said the secretary general’s report underscored important policy considerations and recommendations to leverage STI in closing the gaps on health and well being.

“We hope the report receives the attention it deserves at the national, global and institutional levels,” he said.

The event recognised that the SDGs represented an ambitious vision and an integrated global agenda, including in the field of good health and well-being. The mutually reinforcing nature of the SDG vision and its means of implementation required scaled up financing and forging of meaningful partnerships among and between countries, academia, corporations and international organisations.

According to the Ministry of Science, Pakistan has integrated the SDGs in its development plans, policies and programmes. Both science, technology, innovation and good health were being accorded priority within the budgetary and financial means available. Notwithstanding fiscal constraints, the government has made investments, achieved progress and is resolved to further advance a robust health and STI agenda, including through international cooperation and partnerships.

Mr Faraz said enhanced investments in STI and health, sectorally and in an integrated manner, were vital. The pandemic has disrupted public health systems globally and threatened the already achieved health outcomes.

“Even before the pandemic, only around one third of the global population was covered by essential health services. According to recent estimates, if the current trend continues, only 39 per cent of the global population will be covered by essential health services by 2030.”

Enhanced and smart use of science, technology and innovation, accompanied by a robust global development financing framework, will be essential to ensure good health and well-being for everyone, everywhere, he said.

According to the minister, frontier technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, gene-editing, tele-medicine and medical robotics held immense potential to shape the healthcare landscape in the future.

He said the government had used STI for key interventions and improvements in the healthcare services in Pakistan.

“We have deployed ICT tools to determine eligibility criteria for fully subsidised health insurance cards in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province. This facility is now being expanded to other parts of the country,” he told the audience.

In the wake of the pandemic, the government established a technology-centered National Command and Operation Centre to coordinate federal, provincial and district level monitoring, information and data sharing and awareness purposes.

“We mobilised and harnessed our research and development institutions to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitisers, testing kits and ventilators. We are able to produce these materials in a short time and at competitive pricing. We are also investing in biomedical research and development and have recently established a medical devices and development centre at the National University of Science and Technology at a cost of Rs331 million,” he said.

He suggested scaling up of financing for development, including through greater international tax cooperation, debt relief and a more equitable international trading and investment regimes, especially for developing countries, as a means to improve fiscal space for investments in STI and health sector.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2021