The Chief Executive Officer of Helion Pakistan Limited met with Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, Mustafa Kamal, to discuss strategies for improving healthcare delivery. The two leaders reviewed the pharmaceutical sector’s vital role and underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration in strengthening public health services nationwide.
During the meeting, the CEO of Helion Pakistan Limited provided Minister Kamal with an overview of the company’s ongoing contributions to the national pharmaceutical industry. Minister Kamal recognized these efforts, stressing that partnership and collaboration among public and private entities are essential in achieving sustainable improvements in healthcare.
Highlighting demographic concerns, Minister Kamal pointed out the rapid growth in the country’s population, currently rising at a fertility rate of 3.6%. He warned that if current trends continue, Pakistan could become the fourth most populous nation globally by 2030, creating additional stress on already strained health resources and planning processes. To better manage national resources, the Minister emphasized the necessity of reducing the fertility rate down to 2%.
Another significant point raised by Minister Kamal was the inadequacy of public health infrastructure, particularly concerning sewage treatment systems. He highlighted that around 68% of diseases affecting Pakistan’s population result directly from contaminated drinking water. “Pakistan lacks an effective sewage treatment system, which directly contributes to the spread of disease,” the Minister stated, adding that ensuring a reliable supply of safe drinking water remains one of the highest priorities of the government. He mentioned that comprehensive plans are underway to implement sewage treatment infrastructure throughout the country.
To improve healthcare accessibility at the grassroots level, Minister Kamal shared that the government is actively working to expand telemedicine services nationwide. “We are now bringing doctors and medicines directly to people’s doorsteps,” he explained. He further noted that major hospitals are currently overwhelmed by patient influx, highlighting the urgent need to enhance primary healthcare provision to ease this burden and ensure broader accessibility.
In conclusion, Minister Kamal stated that a detailed roadmap has been formulated for the comprehensive improvement and upgrade of the health system. Acknowledging that prevention is far more effective than treatment, he affirmed that significant healthcare reforms are underway, aimed primarily at reducing disease incidence. He reiterated a strong call for joint efforts between the government, private sector, and civil society to transform Pakistan’s healthcare landscape and protect its citizens from illnesses rather than merely treating conditions after they occur.
