Islamabad : Pakistan’s newly formed National Task Force on Lifestyle Medicine has proposed introducing lifestyle medicine into undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, implementing healthy food policies in health institutions and launching nationwide awareness campaigns to curb the growing burden of diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other lifestyle related diseases in the country.
The proposals were discussed during the inaugural meeting of the taskforce held in Islamabad under the patronage of Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and chaired by Director General Health Dr Abdul Wali Khan.
During the meeting, the taskforce agreed to pursue the incorporation of lifestyle medicine into undergraduate medical curricula through the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and into postgraduate medical training through the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan and the Higher Education Commission.
Participants also discussed implementation of healthy food policies within the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and its allied institutions, while emphasizing stronger public awareness campaigns to promote preventive healthcare and healthier lifestyles.
The taskforce further proposed orientation of healthcare professionals through a short online self-learning course on lifestyle medicine, which may later be made mandatory for healthcare providers.
Health officials said the initiative aimed to shift Pakistan’s healthcare system from treatment focused care towards preventive and promotive healthcare as the country faces a rapidly increasing burden of non-communicable diseases.
Lifestyle medicine is an evidence based medical specialty focused on preventing, managing and in some cases reversing chronic diseases through interventions including healthy nutrition, physical activity, stress management, adequate sleep, avoidance of addictive substances and social connectedness.
The taskforce comprises experts in public health, clinical sciences, medical education and health planning from both public and private sectors.
Participants also discussed engagement with food regulatory authorities, the food industry and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority to promote healthier food environments and policies.
Officials informed the meeting that principles of lifestyle medicine had already been incorporated into the proposed National Health and Population Policy with the support of the Pakistan Association of Lifestyle Medicine.
