FOR too long, the diagnosis of Pakistan’s healthcare system has remained static: underfunded, overburdened and neglected. The narrative has been one of stagnation, with public health spending stubbornly hovering around less than 1% of GDP and indicators lagging woefully behind regional countries. Yet, amidst these persistent challenges, a new chapter is being written. While the scale of crisis remains immense, recent times have witnessed a palpable shift, marked by a series of bold reforms and initiatives from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C) that offer a genuine ray of hope for nation’s health landscape.
The most significant sign of change is a fundamental philosophical shift from a “sick-care” system to a responsive healthcare system. The government is actively moving away from a system solely reliant on hospitals to treat illness, towards a comprehensive framework emphasizing vaccination, clean water, and nationwide digital health records. This is not mere rhetoric; it is being translated into action through a concerted push to strengthen primary healthcare (PHC), the bedrock of any functional health system.
Highest level health authorities and decision makers in the capital and the provinces have reaffirmed their commitment to revitalizing PHC as the cornerstone for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This commitment is underpinned by the new Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS), being rolled out at the district level. This focus on the front lines is where the first glimmers of improvement are being seen. The Economic Survey 2025-26 reports notable progress, with immunization coverage rising from 68% to 73% and infant mortality declining from 60 to 47 per 1,000 live births. These are not just numbers; they represent real lives saved.
The Federal Ministry has also launched a comprehensive ‘digital health transformation’, which stands as one of its most significant achievements. A major pillar of this strategy is the launch of a national Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, which will create a Universal Medical Record (UMR) for every citizen by linking individual health data to the National Identity Card. This unified digital record addresses longstanding fragmentation where provinces and hospitals operated in isolation, ensuring lifelong continuity of care.
Complementing this is an aggressive ‘telemedicine expansion’ initiative. The Federal Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sehat Kahani to expand digital health and telemedicine services nationwide. Under this initiative, telemedicine systems are being installed at Basic Health Units (BHUs), starting with six locations in Islamabad and four in Karachi, where three general physicians will simultaneously consult patients via online video. Online prescriptions will be issued and medicines provided on-site, making the process seamless. A pilot phase titled “Establishment of Telemedicine Centers Services along with Electronic Universal Medical Record and Health Complaint Management System” is operating and providing 24/7 consultations and free medicine delivery through AI-driven platforms and Community Health Workers. This is described this as a ‘silent revolution in the health sector’ and noted that nearly 70 percent of patients visiting tertiary hospitals could ideally be treated at primary healthcare centers, significantly reducing the burden on major hospitals.
The government is also tackling major diseases head-on with unprecedented resolve. PM’s approval of Rs67.77 billion project to eliminate ‘Hepatitis C’, modeled on Egypt’s successful national programme, which will include nationwide screening. This follows the approval of the country’s first National Vaccine Policy, aimed at enhancing local production capacity. Pakistan aims to manufacture more than 13 types of vaccines within the next three years, with four production lines already functional. Local vaccine production is a strategic investment in national health security and a critical step toward self-reliance. The National Institute of Health also organized the First National Health Preparedness and Resilience Conference on Diarrheal Diseases, reaffirming commitment to expanding Rotavirus and oral cholera vaccine coverage under the Expanded Program on Immunization.
Regulatory reforms have been another cornerstone of the present government. PMDC is being fully digitalised to promote merit and transparency, with a roadmap and integrated strategy already developed. Reforms are underway in the Pakistan Nursing & Midwifery Council too. Reforms have also been introduced in DRAP, where medical device licensing has been digitized and licenses are now being issued within a fixed timeframe of just 20 days. Decisive action is being taken against counterfeit medicines through expediting the implementation of the 2D barcode system. The Ministry is also drafting a National Health Insurance Act with provincial consensus to guarantee equitable access to life-saving products and strengthen pooled healthcare financing.
The MoNHSR&C has prioritized ‘disease surveillance and health security’, strengthening nationwide disease surveillance systems in coordination with provinces and development partners. The telemedicine initiative integrates with the Integrated Disease Surveillance & Response System, connecting with the Public Health Laboratories Network, Field Epidemiology Training Program, and National Health Data Centre to establish a unified, data-driven health infrastructure capable of responding rapidly to epidemics and public health emergencies. This aligns with Pakistan’s International Health Regulations commitments and the National Action Plan for Health Security (2024–2028), complying with International Health Regulations.
These initiatives represent a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to transforming Pakistan’s healthcare landscape. While challenges remain immense and the road ahead is long, the signs of progress are irrefutable. The foundation of a resilient health system is being laid through policy, technology, and a renewed political will. The narrative is finally shifting from one of despair to one of cautious optimism. Pakistan’s health future is not yet secure, but with this silver lining, a clear and determined path forward is visible en route to UHC2030. The question now is whether this momentum can be sustained and deepened across successive governments, transforming these promising initiatives into lasting, systemic change.
—The writer is Professor of Public Health, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad.([email protected])
