ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office to assess the progress of ongoing health sector reforms and introduce new plans aimed at improving healthcare services across the country.
The Prime Minister praised the efforts of the Ministry of National Health Services, led by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, and reaffirmed that delivering high-quality healthcare to the public remains a top priority for the government.
To enhance service delivery in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz instructed the development of a collaborative framework involving charitable organizations and the private sector. He also encouraged local pharmaceutical companies to seek World Health Organization (WHO) accreditation, noting that it would not only enhance the quality of medicines but also create new export opportunities.
Taking a firm stance against counterfeit medicines, the Prime Minister called for the use of modern technology to eliminate the menace and emphasized strict adherence to a zero-tolerance policy regarding political interference in healthcare reforms.
He further stressed the need to uphold standards in medical education by ordering third-party validation of medical colleges. Additionally, he directed a thorough review of the nursing sector to address employment-related challenges.
Authorities briefed the Prime Minister on the ongoing digitization of drug and medical device registration, which is expected to be completed by the end of next month. The registration process has already been streamlined, reducing the timeline from one year to just three months.
As part of broader healthcare reforms, the government also plans to establish new Basic Health Units, a Regional Blood Center, and the Isolation Hospital and Infections Treatment Center (IHITC) in Islamabad, with the support of international donors.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and other senior officials from relevant departments.
