The government pledged to create a healthy country: PM
According to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to creating a healthy country and joins the international community in celebrating World Health Day with great conviction and dedication.
“This year’s theme, ‘Together for Health-Stand with Science,’ conveys a powerful and positive message,” he stated in a statement on April 7, World Health Day. It serves as a reminder that the real value of research is found in its useful and significant applications for improving human welfare.
“Innovation must be translated into effective policies and services that protect our people’s health, protect our environment, and secure the well-being of our future generations in light of scientific and technological advancements,” he added. “Pakistan is steadily transforming its healthcare system towards a model that emphasizes prevention of disease and health promotion rather than solely focusing on treatment.” The cornerstone of attaining universal health coverage is primary health care, which represents a deliberate change from a treatment-based system to one focused on prevention and high health standards.
“Health is not only an individual priority but also a cornerstone of economic growth, national stability, and improved quality of life,” he stated. The Pakistani government is still dedicated to creating a robust, fair, and long-lasting healthcare system that is fueled by cooperation and innovation.
Pakistan is one of the first countries to implement the Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) at the national and local levels. To guarantee that every person has access to critical healthcare services, we are extending the implementation of EPHS at the district level through the National Health Support Program,” he said.
“Digital health is a key pillar of the forthcoming National Health and Population Policy (2026–2035),” declared the prime minister. To enhance care delivery, transparency, and evidence-based decision making, we are fortifying integrated systems including the District Health Information System-2 (DHIS-2), telemedicine, and data platforms.
Addressing important factors including population growth, water and sanitation, and nutrition is also necessary to provide high-quality healthcare. To address these issues, the administration is aggressively adopting a multi-sectoral strategy, he noted.
“The government is also working to strengthen health financing, improve expenditure tracking, and expand financial protection measures, including insurance coverage,” he stated. Our aim is to prevent healthcare costs from driving any Pakistani into poverty.
“The federal and provincial governments, along with all stakeholders, development partners, the private sector, and academic institutions, renew their collective commitment to building a healthier, stronger, and more resilient Pakistan through collaboration and innovation on this World Health Day,” he continued.