PM orders validation of medical colleges, digitisation of drug registration

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered third-party validation of medical colleges and a comprehensive review of the nursing sector in Pakistan.

He issued these directives while chairing a high-level meeting on national health affairs.

The meeting reviewed ongoing reforms and discussed new initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

The prime minister appreciated the performance of the Ministry of National Health Services under the leadership of Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, particularly its efforts toward sustainable health sector reforms.

“Providing quality healthcare facilities to the public remains a top priority of the government,” the prime minister said.

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He directed the health ministry to formulate a comprehensive strategy for collaboration with charitable organisations and the private sector to enhance healthcare services in Islamabad.

The premier also encouraged Pakistani pharmaceutical companies to seek accreditation from the World Health Organisation (WHO), stating that such certifications would not only raise the quality of medicines but also open up new avenues for international exports.

He called for the use of advanced technology to eradicate the menace of counterfeit medicines completely.

Emphasising that there could be no compromise on the quality of medical education, he instructed third-party validation of medical colleges to ensure compliance with academic standards.

He further called for a detailed review of the nursing sector and warned that no political interference would be tolerated in the implementation of health sector reforms.

The prime minister was briefed on key challenges hampering health sector development and received recommendations for sustainable solutions.

Officials informed him that the complete digitisation of the drug and medical device registration process will be completed by the end of next month.

The timeline for registration is being reduced from one year to three months.

It was also reported that planning is under way to operationalise newly established basic health units, a regional blood centre, and the Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre (IHITC) in Islamabad with support from philanthropists.