KARACHI: Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal, emphasized the need to implement ongoing health research in Pakistan, stating that although a great deal of research is being conducted in the country, its practical application remains lacking. He made these remarks while addressing the Health Research Advisory Board event in Karachi.
The 6th International Medical Research Conference is currently being held at Gates Pharma Auditorium, attended by officials from DRAP, the National Institute of Health (Islamabad), representatives from both public and private hospitals, and various universities.
Speaking on global health issues, the Minister highlighted the need for joint efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan to eradicate polio, stressing that collaboration is essential to completely eliminate the disease from the region.
He also pointed out that many of Pakistan’s health challenges could be addressed through technology and mobile phone-based solutions, which could significantly improve public health systems.
“Tertiary care hospitals are bearing the burden of around 70% of patients, while there is a visible shortage in primary and secondary healthcare facilities,” he noted.
In a major announcement, Mustafa Kamal revealed that every citizen’s National Identity Card (CNIC) number will soon serve as their medical record number, calling it a transformative step toward digitizing and revolutionizing the healthcare system.
“Once I return to Islamabad, I will ensure that reports and findings from the Health Research Advisory Boards are implemented to bring real-world results,” he pledged.
He further emphasized that the Ministry of Health is one of the most sensitive and challenging departments, where no margin for error exists due to the direct impact of its decisions on human lives.