ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to discuss initiatives aimed at enhancing the healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan.
Emphasizing the importance of the health sector in safeguarding human lives, he directed the construction of a state-of-the-art health tower in Islamabad, housing hospitals, medical universities, and diagnostic centers.
The prime minister underscored the need for a comprehensive strategy to build this tower through a public-private partnership, ensuring access to high-quality healthcare facilities for all citizens.
Expressing concerns about the recent surge in polio cases, the prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating the disease. He called for the mobilization of resources and collaboration with partners to achieve this goal.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of third-party audits for laboratories under the Ministry of National Health Services and the appointment of qualified professionals to enhance the ministry’s efficiency.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to personally oversee health-related matters, including the audit of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and the restructuring of its operations. He also directed the outsourcing of human resources and waste treatment facilities in government hospitals in Islamabad, aiming to improve their efficiency and management.
During the meeting, plans for introducing a National Blood Transfusion and Blood Products Policy and a nursing and midwifery policy framework were discussed. Efforts to increase the number of nursing graduates through evening shifts in colleges were highlighted, along with initiatives to control population growth through a revised National Action Plan.
Concerning healthcare equipment procurement, the prime minister called for a third-party audit to ensure transparency and accountability. Plans to implement a modern hospital management system and waste management facilities in Islamabad’s hospitals were also reviewed.
The meeting participants briefed the prime minister on initiatives to promote local manufacturing of insulin and vaccines, establish plasma fractionation centers, and develop a pharmaceutical park. Additionally, plans for healthcare facilities in Musakhel, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan were discussed to improve access to quality healthcare services in underserved areas.
Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Ahad Khan Cheema, along with PM’s Coordinators Malik Mukhtar Ahmed and Rana Ehsan Afzal, attended the meeting, highlighting the government’s commitment to prioritizing healthcare and ensuring the well-being of the population.
