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ISLAMABAD, Nov 25 (APP):Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday said Pakistan is fundamentally transforming its healthcare system by shifting from a hospital dependent “sick-care model” to a comprehensive preventive framework focused on vaccination, clean water and nationwide digital medical records.
Addressing global health leaders at the Medical World Conference in Ankara he said real healthcare must begin at birth and operate through a “full preventive ecosystem” rather than relying solely on hospitals.
He noted that Pakistan’s previous approach centered on treating illness instead of preventing it, was not sustainable for a population of 250 million, including over 6 million newborns each year.
“It is impossible for hospitals alone to address all illness,” the minister said, adding that the government is now strengthening primary and secondary healthcare to ensure early detection and prevention.
A major pillar of this new strategy is the launch of a national Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, which will create a Universal Medical Record (UMR) for every citizen by linking individual health data to the National Identity Card.
Kamal said the project was inspired by Turkey’s digital health ecosystem, developed after extensive collaboration and exchange of delegations between the two countries.
He expressed Pakistan’s desire to deepen practical cooperation with Turkey in modern, patient-focused medical services, noting that unified digital records would address longstanding fragmentation where provinces and hospitals operate in isolation.
On the prevention side, the minister said the national immunization program has been expanded to 13 free vaccines, with the cervical cancer vaccine recently added.
He also announced a major new initiative to eliminate Hepatitis C, modeled on Egypt’s successful national program, which will include nationwide screening.
Kamal stressed that while the Health Ministry is driving major reforms, essential public health infrastructure including clean drinking water and sanitation were remains the responsibility of local governments.
To support long-term self-reliance, Pakistan is also ramping up domestic vaccine production.
The minister said the country aims to manufacture more than 13 types of vaccines within the next three years, with four production lines already functional.
He urged global health organizations and international partners to strengthen collaboration with Pakistan in research, clinical trials and vaccine manufacturing, calling for joint efforts to “shape a healthier future through cooperative innovation and shared commitment.”