Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr. Nadeem Jan on Tuesday said that the government of Pakistan is successfully implementing its reform agenda to strengthen the health system of the country. He was addressing the 70th WHO Regional Committee meeting in Cairo- a 22-nation highest regional forum on health.
Dr. Nadeem Jan said that ‘Health for All by All’ is everyone’s business as this includes governments, civil society, development partners, private sector, academia, local communities and health practitioners. “We must all work hand-in-hand with a belief that strong health systems will protect everyone.”
The minister appreciated WHO Regional Director’s report for Member States on progress, achievements and challenges in implementing Vision 2023, which has outlined the key priorities and progress in line with the Thirteenth General Programme of Work, 2019-25 like enhancing access to Universal Health Coverage, tackling Health Emergencies and ensuring Health and well being.
He said that in order to achieve universal health coverage, by providing access to quality essential health services without financial hardship, Pakistan became the first country in the World to adopt Disease Control Priorities – edition III. Accordingly, evidence informed, Essential Package of Health Services have been developed at national and provincial level.
“We are now moving from DCP3 Country Translation to Implementation stage, mainly for District EPHS implementation through government financing, while development partners are providing support to fill the gaps,” he said.
The minister said that Cross Programmatic Efficiency Analysis has been completed in Pakistan to review support from Global Health Initiatives (GHI) including Global Fund to fight against AIDs, TB and Malaria and Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization.
“We need to review the recommendations and start a reform process for effective use of GHI resources though an integrated approach,” he said.
He said, “We are prioritizing hospital sector reforms and we have recently adopted WHO framework for action for the hospital sector.”
To reduce catastrophic health expenditure for indoor services, Pakistan is implementing Health Insurance Programme in two provinces and three federating areas. In 2023, all arrangements have been finalized to expand the programme in the province of Balochistan also.
The minister said the government has decided to increase the number of community-based lady health workers from 89,000 to 135,000 within five years, while creating more job opportunities in primary health care facilities along with engagement of private sector general practitioners for provision of essential health services.
He said that Pakistan as the current chair of the Global Health Security Agenda, (a framework for IHR 2005), is hosting the Global Health Security Summit 2023 on 1-2 December 2023, at Islamabad.
