In light of the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, an emergency high-level meeting was held today at the National Institute of Health (NIH) under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal.
Senior officials including the Director General Health, CEO DRAP, heads of federal hospitals, representatives of the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority, Director General Health from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Director Health from Azad Jammu & Kashmir participated in the meeting, along with other key stakeholders.
The objective of the meeting was to comprehensively review preparedness and formulate strategies to deal with any potential health emergencies.
Addressing the participants, Minister Mustafa Kamal stated, “India is an unreliable adversary. We must remain fully prepared for all possible scenarios. The Ministry of Health and its subordinate institutions will stay on high alert.”
The Health Minister directed the CEO of DRAP to ensure uninterrupted supply of vaccines and life-saving medicines. He also stressed to ensure alternatives arrangements for medicines currently imported from India. Furthermore, he instructed the NIH to immediately enhance its capacity for local vaccine production.
Minister Kamal emphasized that federal hospitals must continue daily operations smoothly and remain fully functional in emergency situations without any disruption.
He also urged the provincial governments to allocate additional hospital beds and ensure adequate stockpiles of blood and essential medicines in anticipation of any crisis.
Special instructions were issued to Polyclinic Hospital to make specific arrangements for the treatment of burn victims in case of emergency. The Minister also directed that the medical needs of the armed forces be met on a priority basis.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the formal establishment of a "National Health Emergency Center" at the NIH. This center will maintain round-the-clock coordination with all provinces and relevant institutions.
Minister Kamal concluded, “Timely information sharing is crucial in times of crisis. The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation and is fully committed to ensuring the provision of essential healthcare services to the public under all circumstances.”
