Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal inaugurated the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Health Services Academy in Islamabad, describing the move as a key milestone for pharmacy education and public health research in Pakistan. The minister highlighted the importance of developing a competent, ethical and prevention-oriented health workforce capable of protecting communities and promoting healthier lifestyles.
Syed Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan has the talent and institutional capacity to build a stronger health system from within and stressed the need to shift emphasis from treatment to prevention. “Our goal should be to keep people healthy and prevent them from becoming patients,” he said, warning that expanding hospitals alone will not resolve the country’s health challenges unless equal attention is paid to primary healthcare, health promotion and disease prevention.
The minister also pointed to demographic pressures from a rapidly growing population that increase demand on health services and underlined that a strong essential health system is vital for both health security and economic stability. He called for investment in training pharmacists, doctors and public health professionals who serve with integrity and a strong sense of public responsibility.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan noted that pharmaceutical sciences are a vital pillar of the healthcare system and said the new academic unit will bolster HSA’s academic, research and policy contributions in pharmacy, regulation and health systems development. Registrar Prof. Dr. Tariq Mehmood Ali reflected on HSA’s transformation from a small training institute into a national public health university with multiple schools and collaborations across government and regulatory bodies.
The establishment of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences is expected to expand pharmacy education, research and innovation while supporting public health workforce development across Pakistan. The inauguration was attended by health professionals, faculty, pharmacists, representatives from academia and the health sector, including Dr Akhtar Abbas Khan, Secretary, Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, and other distinguished guests.
