ISLAMABAD, Jan 27 (APP): Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday inaugurated the fifth Telemedicine Center in Islamabad at Basic Health Unit (BHU) Bhukkar, reaffirming the government’s strong commitment to rapidly fulfilling its promises to the public and strengthening the country’s primary healthcare system.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony in the rural area of Islamabad, the Minister stated that the government is taking effective and practical measures to reinforce primary healthcare services nationwide. He emphasized that with the rapidly growing population, the patient burden on hospitals is increasing continuously, and the most effective and sustainable solution lies in the optimal use of modern healthcare technologies, particularly telemedicine.
Mustafa Kamal highlighted that telemedicine enables the delivery of quality healthcare services not only in urban centers but also in remote and rural areas, ensuring that citizens have access to the same standard of medical consultation available in major cities. He noted that in today’s digital age, a doctor’s physical presence is no longer essential for basic medical care, as telemedicine has emerged as an efficient and reliable system for timely diagnosis and treatment.
The Federal Health Minister announced that the BHU Bhukkar Health Facility will be upgraded in phases from a primary to a secondary healthcare center, further improving healthcare access and service delivery for the local population.
Sharing further details, he informed that 5,000 doctors have been allocated across the country for digitalized healthcare centers, who will provide online medical consultations from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. He added that telemedicine presents a valuable opportunity for female doctors who have discontinued medical practice and are based at home, enabling their reintegration into the national healthcare system while strengthening service coverage.
The Federal Minister further stated that trained medical staff will remain present at telemedicine centers to facilitate patients, and the scope of telemedicine services will continue to expand across basic health units. He emphasized that healthcare centers will not be limited to curative services alone but will also function as platforms for health awareness, disease prevention, and community engagement.
The Federal Health Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Health is working proactively to prevent diseases rather than only treating illnesses, and the government is fulfilling its responsibilities with full dedication. He urged citizens to recognize their own role and actively support government initiatives aimed at improving public health outcomes.
Mustafa Kamal also underscored that the government is delivering vaccination services against thirteen deadly diseases at the doorstep of communities, urging parents to ensure complete immunization of their children to help build a healthy, resilient, and prosperous society.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram, Co-founder and CEO of Sehat Kahani, stated, “This project will achieve its full potential when more patients can consult doctors online through telemedicine. We plan to continue this initiative by opening additional digital centers so that more families can benefit from reliable and timely healthcare services.”
She further highlighted that BHU Bhukkar is operating on Sehat Kahani’s advanced digital health infrastructure, which includes secure video consultations, electronic medical records, digital prescriptions, integrated pharmacy systems, and a patient analytics dashboard. She emphasized that nursing staff remain central to managing patient flow and ensuring effective service delivery at the facility.