Islamabad:The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, with support from the British High Commission and World Health Organization (WHO) organised a joint meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Health and Population Council and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Country Platform.
Officials said the meeting provided an opportunity for harmonising national, provincial and development partner investments, fostering evidence-informed strategic and programmatic reforms, while ensuring coherence across health programmes and initiatives.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal chaired the meeting, and was attended by the provincial/federating area Health and Population Ministers and Secretaries, Health Development Partners, UN agencies, academia, regulatory entities and other health and population stakeholders.
Kamal said achieving UHC is a cornerstone of the government’s national development strategy. He said Pakistan stood at a critical and challenging demographic juncture, impacting every aspect of national development, most critically, our health and population sector. The upcoming National Health and Population Policy (2026-35) will be our strategic compass.
“Health is not merely a sectoral issue but a foundational investment in human capital and economic stability. The policy provides a practical, evidence-based and action-oriented roadmap to realise a new vision. It charts a clear path toward a healthier, more empowered and resilient population, reflecting our national commitment to demographic resilience, gender equality and social justice,” he stated.
He called for sustained political will and collaborative action to implement policy commitments into tangible health outcomes for all Pakistanis. On the occasion, State Minister for National Health Dr Mukhtar Bharath said that local vaccine production is not only a strategic investment in our health security, but a critical step toward self-reliance and sustainable development.
He said achieving the WHO Maturity Level 3 is essential to ensure our regulatory systems meet global standards of quality, safety, and efficacy, enabling our locally produced vaccines to gain international confidence and market access.
The minister said at the same time, the drafting of a National Health Insurance Act with provincial consensus is imperative to guarantee equitable access to these life-saving products, strengthen pooled financing for healthcare, and ensure long-term sustainability of our health system. “Together, these measures will protect our population, reduce dependence on imports, and position our country as a credible contributor to global health resilience.”
