The Federal Minister for Health of Pakistan represented the country at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Ministers' Forum, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to advancing health equity, achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and promoting regional cooperation in health innovation, digital transformation, emergency preparedness, and the integration of traditional medicine.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, the Minister emphasized that ensuring access to quality healthcare for every citizen remains a top priority, guided by the principles of equity, social justice, and solidarity. He highlighted the government’s active efforts to enhance investment in health sector reforms, particularly in strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) systems to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality. Pakistan’s vision is further being shaped by the development of the forthcoming National Health and Population Policy (2025-2034), which aims to address current healthcare gaps and set a strategic direction towards achieving UHC, aligned with the principles of the Astana Declaration of 2018.
The Minister underscored the critical need for collaborative action among SCO member states to eliminate disparities in health and healthcare, thus playing a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. He called upon all member states to work in solidarity to strengthen public healthcare systems and promote the high-quality development of PHC as a fundamental tool for protecting public health.
Recognizing the transformative potential of digital technologies, the Health Minister outlined Pakistan’s significant strides in digital healthcare innovation, including the launch of the National Digital Health Framework, the expansion of telemedicine and mobile health services, and the nationwide adoption of DHIS2 to digitize health data for better decision-making. He proposed that SCO members work collectively to harmonize policies on data security and ethical AI practices, foster knowledge sharing through the establishment of an SCO Digital Health Knowledge Hub, prioritize joint initiatives to improve digital infrastructure and literacy, develop SCO-wide guidelines for responsible AI use in healthcare, and leverage multilateral partnerships to accelerate research and deployment of digital health solutions.
Reflecting on the global lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister emphasized the urgent need for strengthening health emergency response systems across the region. He shared that Pakistan has developed its National Action Plan for Health Security (2024-28) following the Joint External Evaluation 2023, which aims to build robust emergency preparedness and response capacities. He proposed enhanced regional coordination through the establishment of a Regional Emergency Medical Cooperation Mechanism, joint training exercises, technical exchanges, and strengthened sharing and innovation in emergency medical science and technology to ensure swift and effective responses to future public health crises.
Another key focus of the Minister’s address was the promotion of traditional and integrative medicine. He stressed that traditional medicine, deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of SCO countries, offers affordable and accessible healthcare solutions that complement modern medical advancements. He noted Pakistan’s strong traditional medicine infrastructure, including the Unani-Tibb system, and proposed the establishment of a SCO Centre of Excellence for Traditional and Integrative Medicine. He further called for the development of regulatory and quality assurance frameworks, integration of traditional medicine into PHC, support for research and innovation, and enhanced knowledge exchange across SCO nations.
The Health Minister concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s full support for the SCO’s agenda of promoting regional cooperation in health. He expressed confidence that through collaborative efforts, innovation, and a blending of tradition with modernity, SCO member states can work together to build a healthier, safer, and fairer world, ensuring the health and well-being of all their people.
