ISLAMABAD: A new review calls for the merging of health and population strategies, stronger primary healthcare, cross-sectoral collaboration on health, nutrition and population, and a strengthened response to emerging and re-emerging diseases.

The findings were presented at an event organised by the Ministry of National Health Services. Coordinator to Prime Minister on Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad and Health Secretary Nadeem Mahbub joined the British High Commissioner Jane Marriott to reflect on Pakistan’s progress under its National Health Vision 2016-25 and kick-start a new Health and Population Policy for Pakistan 2025-34.

Dr Ahmad said: “Today we came together to assess exactly how well our National Health Vision to date has progressed, identify challenges and outline future health priorities for Pakistan. It is clear that we need to develop a combined National Health and Population Policy to take us to 2034.”

“The upcoming Health and Population Policy will be a cornerstone in guiding our health and population strategies moving forward, addressing current gaps, setting a clear direction for achieving universal health coverage, strengthening primary healthcare and making resilient health systems for sustainable health and population improvements. As we move forward, it is imperative that we reinforce the principles of good governance and effective stewardship in the health and population sector,” he added.

The coordinator on health stressed the need for a health systems approach to modernise the system for the future. He emphasised on the need to increase the production of good quality health workforce, especially nurses, improving efficiency of hospitals, using digital technologies, ensuring availability of essential medicines and building capacities to tackle health emergencies and epidemics effectively and equitably while considering fiscal space.

Ms Marriott said: “Pakistan has the capability to deliver healthcare for all, but important work is still needed, and all relevant sectors and provincial health departments should continue to work together to tackle the challenges Pakistan’s health system faces from climate change, poor nutrition and rapid population growth.”

It is worth mentioning that the review, supported by the British High Commission, of Pakistan’s progress under the National Health Vision 2016-25, particularly highlights the need to merge health and population strategies. Through doing so, the effectiveness of the government’s family planning initiatives can be enhanced and community awareness raised about the impacts of rapid population growth.

Key participants in the event included federal government officials, provincial health departments, including governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and development partners.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2024