Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reviewed current health sector reforms and presented fresh plans to enhance the provision of healthcare in Pakistan in a top-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, sources stated.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction with the work carried out by the Ministry of National Health Services, led by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal.
Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that the government’s prime focus is to deliver the best quality healthcare to the people.
The Prime Minister instructed the establishment of a common framework among charitable organizations and the private sector to enhance Islamabad’s service delivery.
Shehbaz Sharif also praised Pakistani pharmaceutical firms to seek World Health Organization (WHO) authorization, pointing out that recognition would enhance the quality of drugs and open up export opportunities.
Presenting an uncompromising stance against spurious drugs, Shehbaz Sharif directed the deployment of high technology to eliminate the menace.
He underscored the implementation of zero-tolerance policy will be followed political interference in enforcing health sector reforms.
PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for medical education standards, directing third-party verification of medical schools to maintain quality education. He further demanded a comprehensive review of the nursing industry to confront recruitment challenges.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the progress on digitizing the drug and medical device registration process, which authorities aim to complete by the end of next month. The government has also cut the registration timeline from one year to just three months.
There are also proposals for health sector reforms, to establish new Basic Health Units, a Regional Blood Center, and the Isolation Hospital and Infections Treatment Center (IHITC) in Islamabad with the assistance of donors.
The meeting comprised Federal Ministers Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and other high-ranking officials from concerned departments.
