Health Minister directs to institutionalize lifestyle medicine within medical education in meeting with NTLM

ISLAMABAD, Jul 29 (APP): Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordinationon Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Wednesday directed the members of Nationals Taskforce on Lifestyle Medicine (NTLM) to institutionalize lifestyle medicine within medical education, aiming to build a healthier Pakistan through sustainable lifestyle-based interventions.

He expressed these views during second meetings with members of the National Taskforce on Lifestyle Medicine, which was conducted to review progress made since the inaugural session and to accelerate the integration of lifestyle medicine into Pakistan’s healthcare system.

During the meeting, the minister highlighted that the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) will be formally advised to incorporate lifestyle medicine into undergraduate medical curricula.

In the meeting, the Taskforce reached several landmark decisions to strengthen Pakistan’s preventive health framework, including a dedicated curriculum development subcommittee was constituted to develop the required academic modules. Simultaneously, the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) will be requested to integrate lifestyle medicine into postgraduate medical education and residency training programmes.

The Federal Minster also approved the establishment of a Healthy Food Kiosk within the Ministry premises through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The initiative will benefit from the several successful experience in implementing healthy menu reforms and will serve as a model for other public sector institutions.

The Federal Minister reaffirmed that Pakistan’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases requires a decisive shift from treatment-oriented healthcare towards prevention through healthy lifestyles.

The National Taskforce on Lifestyle Medicine will continue to provide strategic guidance for integrating evidence-based lifestyle interventions into national health policies, medical education, workplace wellness, and community

Among the notable participants of the meeting were, Prof. Dr Zafar Mirza Former SAPM and President of Pakistan Association of Lifestyle Medicine (PALM),Dr Wali Khan Director General (Health) m/o NHSRC, Dr Tanwir Khaliq VC SZAMBU, Dr. Shagufta Feroz, Director Riphah Institute of Lifestyle Medicine (RILM), Prof Dr Yawar Hayat Khan, Deputy VC Riphah International University, Ms. Amena Aly Member (Development Communication) M/o PD&SI, the General Secretary of PALM Dr Sadia Fazal, Executive PALM Dr Zia Abbas, Dr Zaeem Zia CEO IHRA, Dr Muhammad Qaiser Khan Deputy Chief (Health) M/o PDSI, Member R&D HEC, Mohsin Nisar Joint ED NIH, along with Director Programs, Director (PHC), and Deputy Director PHC-ICT Coord M/o NHSRC.

The meeting brought together distinguished experts in public health, medical education, clinical sciences, lifestyle medicine, and representatives from relevant ministries and organizations to deliberate upon strategic interventions aimed at preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through evidence-based lifestyle approaches.