Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has directed the fast-tracking of the national Telemedicine Project, underscoring its vital role in improving healthcare access for all citizens, especially those in remote areas. The directive was issued during a high-level meeting held to review the project’s progress and address implementation challenges.
The meeting brought together senior officials, including the Joint Secretary of Health, the Director General of Development, and the Special Consultant on Telemedicine. Participants received a comprehensive update on the ongoing pilot phase of the initiative, as well as an overview of key hurdles in its rollout.
Minister Kamal stressed the urgency of the project, describing telemedicine as a “critical need of the time.” He called for the early rollout of the initiative to ensure widespread public benefit from digital healthcare solutions. “By leveraging advanced technologies, the project is bringing doctors and medicines to the doorsteps of citizens, particularly those in underserved and remote regions,” he said.
Currently, the Telemedicine Project is being piloted in Karachi and Islamabad, with plans to expand the program nationwide following the initial phase. The Minister highlighted the strain on major hospitals, noting that approximately 70 percent of people bypass primary healthcare centers, putting increased pressure on tertiary care facilities. He expressed confidence that telemedicine would ease this burden by extending quality consultations and medicine delivery directly to citizens’ homes.
Kamal emphasized that the new system will be especially beneficial for economically disadvantaged populations who cannot afford to travel to hospitals for medical care. He underlined that telemedicine ensures both medical consultations and essential medicines are accessible to those in need, regardless of location.
Calling the project a “major step towards strengthening the country’s primary healthcare system,” the Health Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing accessible, efficient, and equitable healthcare through the adoption of modern digital solutions.
