Islamabad, June 18, 2026: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) convened a meeting today to review the strategic role of Family Medicine in strengthening Primary Healthcare (PHC) and advancing Pakistan’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, President PM&DC, and attended by the Registrar PM&DC, Dr. Rehan Naqvi, along with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), including Dr. Saira Tariq, WHO Consultant and Dr. Naveed Asghar, Team Lead Health System Development, WHO Pakistan.
Participants underscored the growing importance of Family Medicine in addressing Pakistan’s evolving healthcare challenges, including the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, maternal and child health needs, and the healthcare demands of an ageing population.
The committee reviewed the significant reforms introduced by the PM&DC Council since its reconstitution under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj. Key initiatives include the mandatory establishment of Departments of Family Medicine in medical colleges with defined faculty requirements incorporated into accreditation standards, the integration of 75 teaching hours of Family Medicine into the undergraduate medical curriculum, the requirement for three outreach centers for all institutions, and the introduction of a three-year optional House Job rotation pathway to strengthen primary care training and community-based healthcare delivery.
These landmark measures reflect PM&DC’s commitment to developing a healthcare workforce equipped to provide comprehensive, continuous, and patient-centered care at the community level.
The President PM&DC reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen Family Medicine and enhance the quality of primary healthcare services across Pakistan. The WHO representatives emphasized the critical role of Family Medicine as a cornerstone of effective, equitable, and people-centered health systems worldwide. They also highly appreciated the leadership and contributions of Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj and commended PM&DC’s proactive reforms aimed at institutionalizing Family Medicine within Pakistan’s medical education and healthcare systems.
Reiterating PM&DC’s commitment to healthcare excellence, the President PM&DC emphasized that strengthening Family Medicine remains central to building an accessible, equitable, and resilient healthcare system for Pakistan. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment between PM&DC, WHO, and key stakeholders to further advance Family Medicine and strengthen primary healthcare services nationwide.
