The World Bank Country Director met with Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal, joined by the Additional Secretary Health and the Director General Health, for detailed talks on the challenges facing Pakistan’s health sector.
During the discussion both sides explored sustainable policy options and service delivery changes, with the World Bank Country Director praising the ministry’s performance over the past six months and offering full support for ongoing Health reforms.
Minister Mustafa Kamal said the government is rolling out wide-ranging reforms to strengthen healthcare delivery, stressing the Ministry’s commitment to expand services to remote and underserved communities through telemedicine and other modern approaches to care.
The minister also outlined plans to implement Universal Medical Records to protect patient data and improve continuity of care. He warned that around 68% of diseases in Pakistan originate from contaminated water and noted that “The solution lies in clean water supply, public awareness, and collective efforts,” adding that a national integrated strategy is being developed to address this challenge.
Mustafa Kamal emphasized prevention as the core duty of the health sector: “The real duty of the health sector is to prevent people from falling ill, not merely to treat diseases.” He said reducing overcrowding in hospitals requires stronger preventive measures and targeted interventions to protect people from preventable illnesses and build a more sustainable health system.
