ISLAMABAD: Sudan has sought technical and institutional support from Pakistan to rehabilitate its health sector, presenting a five-year strategic framework encompassing around 45 health-related projects during talks in Islamabad on Monday.
The request was made during a meeting between Pakistan’s Health Minister, Mustafa Kamal, and a Sudanese delegation led by the Federal Secretary of Health of Sudan.
The meeting was also attended by Pakistan’s Federal Secretary Health, Hamid Yaqoob, and senior officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, according to a press release issued by Pakistan’s Health Ministry.
Pakistan’s Health Minister emphasised Islamabad’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Sudan across multiple areas of healthcare.
“Pakistan attaches great importance to its brotherly relations with Sudan and highly values Sudan’s interest in strengthening cooperation in the health sector,” Kamal said.
He appreciated the constructive engagement of the Sudanese delegation and pledged support for long-term collaboration.
The Sudanese delegation briefed Pakistani officials on the challenges facing Sudan’s health sector. These include shortages of medical equipment, gaps in institutional capacity, and the need to restore solar-energy solutions at health facilities.
They also outlined a five-year strategic framework aimed at the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the health sector.
Areas of support and collaboration
Sudan requested Pakistan’s assistance in training medical personnel, facilitating expert exchanges, providing medical equipment and technologies, and enhancing institutional collaboration.
The Sudanese delegation expressed confidence that closer coordination with Pakistan would accelerate Sudan’s recovery plans.
Highlighting Pakistan’s capabilities, Kamal noted that matters related to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and regulation fall under the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
He added that Pakistan is progressing toward WHO Regulatory Maturity Level 3 and is committed to sharing knowledge and expertise.
Kamal also stated that medical tourism could be promoted, with visa facilitation to be coordinated through Pakistani diplomatic missions.
Formalising the partnership
To ensure effective and timely progress, it was shared that Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs would expedite the process of finalising the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) through close coordination, the press release added.
Pakistan’s Health Minister Kamal assured that Pakistan will continue to extend comprehensive support to Sudan in emergency response, recovery, capacity building, and the development of long-term partnerships in the health sector.
