The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National AI Hub, Pakistan’s first nationally coordinated artificial intelligence hub, established by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), to advance the responsible use of AI in the country’s health sector, particularly to improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.
Ministry signs MoU to promote responsible use of AI in healthcare
LAHORE, Jul 17 (APP): The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National AI Hub, Pakistan’s first nationally coordinated artificial intelligence hub, established by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), to advance the responsible use of AI in the country’s health sector, particularly to improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.
The MoU provides a framework for collaboration in research, innovation, evidence generation, policy engagement and capacity building in artificial intelligence for healthcare. Under the partnership, MoNHSRC and the National AI Hub will identify national priorities, support the development and evaluation of AI-enabled healthcare solutions, and promote the ethical and effective integration of artificial intelligence into Pakistan’s health system.
The agreement was signed by Federal Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, and Director General (Population) Dr. Shabana Saleem on behalf of the ministry. Other officials present included District Health Officer ICT Dr. Rashida Batool, District Population Welfare Officer ICT Muhammad Ayub and Deputy Director (Technical) Dr. Beenish. Representing LUMS were Provost Dr. Tariq Jadoon and Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, Dr. Agha Ali Raza. Consultant to the Gates Foundation Naveed Akbar also attended the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri said the collaboration would play a pivotal role in improving maternal and child health services through the safe, responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence.
Dr. Tariq Jadoon said the partnership created an important opportunity to translate interdisciplinary research into meaningful public impact. He said LUMS was pleased to contribute its expertise in artificial intelligence and data science to support stronger, more responsive health systems and improve outcomes for mothers, newborns and children across Pakistan.
The partnership will support joint research, technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement while contributing to policies and implementation strategies for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. It will also bring together expertise from government, academia, healthcare institutions, industry and development partners to strengthen national capacity.
As Pakistan advances its digital health agenda, the MoU marks an important step towards using artificial intelligence to build more resilient, efficient and equitable health systems for mothers, newborns and children.
