Health challenges in Pakistan demand immediate action: Ahsan Iqbal

March 11, 2025 (MLN): The escalating health crisis in Pakistan demands immediate and comprehensive action, emphasized Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal.

Chairing a Project Steering Committee meeting on the Prime Minister's Programme for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes Mellitus in Islamabad, Ahsan Iqbal underscored the importance of tackling pressing health concerns.

During the meeting, the health department briefed the committee on the objectives of the Prime Minister's Programme for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes Mellitus.

The program aims to strengthen essential health services, particularly diabetes-related care, across all provinces, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The initiative seeks to reach over 70% of the targeted population in various districts through primary healthcare facilities, lady health workers, and population-level interventions, according to the press release.

Minister Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the alarming statistics related to diabetes, hepatitis, polio, and stunting, stating that Pakistan ranks third globally for diabetes, first for hepatitis, and remains among the leading countries affected by polio and stunting.

“I am confident that through coordinated efforts, we can address these pressing health challenges effectively,” he said.

He further emphasized the need for stronger coordination with provincial governments to ensure effective disease prevention and health interventions.

Stressing the importance of increasing the national health budget, Iqbal urged immediate action to reverse the decline in health indicators.

“Public awareness campaigns are crucial to preventing these diseases, and they must be launched without delay.

It’s vital to recognize that harmful health factors affect both smokers and non-smokers,” he added.

Ahsan Iqbal also called for the federal government to play an active role in ensuring coordination among stakeholders.

“The federal government will ensure that a minimum level of coordination is maintained among all parties involved,” he said.

Welcoming the newly appointed Federal Health Minister, Mustafa Kamal, Iqbal expressed confidence in his leadership, stating,

“I believe that under Minister Kamal’s leadership, we will see positive changes in the health sector.”

Iqbal also announced plans to make Islamabad a model for health policies and practices for other provinces.

“Islamabad will be developed as a role model for other provinces in terms of health initiatives,” he stated.

In line with the awareness campaign, Iqbal directed the relevant departments to finalize the Terms of Reference (TORs) on an urgent basis.

He emphasized the necessity of a unified approach in implementing health initiatives and discouraged working in silos.

“We must work in a coordinated and integrated manner to ensure success in this program,” he said.

Furthermore, Iqbal announced the formation of a special team to conduct baseline surveys and collect accurate data for the program.

“To ensure a unified approach, we will designate teams to compile secondary data and provide guidance to the provinces,” he said.

He added that provinces would be responsible for implementing their own health initiatives while the federal government would provide support.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Iqbal stressed the need for national-level emergency measures to tackle diabetes, hepatitis, polio, and stunting.

“These health challenges must be addressed promptly,” he asserted.

The meeting was attended by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, the Secretary of Health, members of the Social Sector and Development Communications Planning Commission, senior officials from the Ministry of Planning, and representatives from relevant departments.

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal echoed the need for strong coordination with provincial governments, emphasizing that “effective cooperation with the provinces is our top priority in tackling these health issues.”

On his first day as Health Minister, Kamal expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the vital health sector.

“It is an honor to serve in this critical field and contribute to improving the nation’s health outcomes,” he stated.

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