A review meeting on the progress of the “One Patient, One ID” project was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal and Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
The meeting jointly reviewed progress on the project and agreed on a joint strategy to make “One Patient, One ID” functional at the earliest in line with the directives of the Prime Minister.
The meeting was informed that under the modern system, a patient’s complete medical history and previous record would be easily available when the patient is transferred from one hospital to another.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the best combination of technology and health was being used to make the treatment system transparent and modern through medical records.
The meeting emphasised practical measures and clear Terms of Reference (TORs) for early implementation of the project. It was also decided that a third-party review of the “One Patient, One ID” project would be conducted to ensure quality and transparency.
The participants agreed that all relevant institutions would finalise the project swiftly under a mutually agreed mechanism for the welfare of the people. It was also agreed that an IT wing in the Ministry of Health would be activated to understand the system and run it properly.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the “One Patient, One ID” project should not face further delay or unnecessary repetition. He directed that a third-party audit of the project be conducted.
He said issues that had been under discussion for the last 14 to 15 months should now be formally documented, adding that practical solutions should be found for all problems related to the project.
Mustafa Kamal directed that clear TORs be prepared for the project. He said identification of possible shortcomings in the project and measures to address them should be made part of the TORs.
The health minister said the third-party audit would provide an impartial review of the project’s progress, shortcomings and required reforms. He said merely identifying issues was not enough, and clear steps and responsibilities must be fixed for their resolution.
He urged all relevant institutions to fulfil their responsibilities and move the project forward practically under an agreed mechanism.
Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan had planned a Universal Medical Record (UMR) project and work on it was continuing at a fast pace. He said Pakistan did not have Universal Medical Record data at present.
Under the project, he said, every citizen’s Computerised National Identity Card number would serve as the unique medical record number, or MR number.
He said a patient’s medical record would be available under one identity instead of being scattered across different hospitals and institutions. He added that when a patient is shifted from one hospital to another, the previous medical record would be easily accessible.
The minister said Universal Medical Record would make access to a patient’s complete medical history possible.
