Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has directed officials to complete all ongoing health projects on priority and within their set timelines, emphasizing the need for preventive care and stronger population control measures.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, attended by senior officials including the Federal Secretary Health and Director General Health, the minister reviewed progress on current initiatives and discussed hurdles in implementation.
Highlighting Pakistan’s position as the world’s fifth most populous country, Kamal urged the formulation of effective policies to curb the rising population growth rate, which he said is putting “immense pressure” on the healthcare system.
He noted that prevention should be the government’s foremost objective, pointing out that nearly 68% of diseases in Pakistan stem from contaminated water. “Prevention is more effective than cure,” he remarked.
The minister stressed the importance of routine immunization against 12 preventable diseases and called for strengthening the vaccination system, particularly to eliminate polio, which persists only in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He added that the government is working to strengthen Basic Health Units (BHUs), improve referral systems for timely care, and expand access through telemedicine projects. The Health Complaint Management System, he said, will allow citizens to directly register their grievances.
Directing officials to improve hospital performance and the overall healthcare system, Kamal said, “It is our duty to provide maximum medical facilities within the available resources.”
