AKU symposium gives primary healthcare a boost

IV Report

KARACHI: In a significant push for healthcare reform, representatives from governments, academia, international development partners, and health professionals have urged increased public health spending, improved health information systems, and integration of health and population welfare departments at national and subnational levels. This consensus emerged at the conclusion of a two-day national symposium on “Primary Health Care” held on April 15-16, hosted by the Aga Khan University (AKU).

During the symposium, AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin presented the “Lifetime Achievement Award” to Sindh Minister for Health and Population departments, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, citing her 25 years of experience in the health sector. Dr Pechuho has driven systematic improvements in Sindh’s healthcare landscape, championing initiatives such as controlling infectious diseases, expanding immunization coverage, and improving access to health and education services, particularly for women, children, and marginalised communities, said an AKU communication.

The symposium, attended by over 500 participants, emphasised the urgency of integrating Primary Health Care (PHC) into national development strategies, advocating for increased domestic funding, stronger stewardship, and multisectoral coordination. Key recommendations include:

- Increased funding: Boost primary health care financing to 2% of GDP by the mid-2030s

- Research and data-driven planning: Prioritise PHC with increased research roles and data-based planning at all levels

- Innovative financing: Explore health insurance, strategic purchasing, performance-based financing, and public-private partnerships

The symposium also highlighted the need for:

- Financial risk protection: Transition from out-of-pocket payments to pre-payment means through enhanced tax-based financing and social health insurance

- Integration of departments: Merge health and population welfare departments to expand access and demand generation for family planning services

- Women in decision-making: Enhance women's roles in PHC decision-making positions

- Community engagement: Strengthen community-based outreach, particularly for nutrition and maternal-child health via lady health workers

On the first day, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasised the importance of quality primary health care services, stating, “Improving access to quality primary health care services is a key priority.”

AKU President Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin noted that PHC is the path to people-centered health systems, while Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal stressed PHC's centrality in achieving universal health coverage and health-related SDGs.

The symposium, supported by the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the World Bank, featured discussions on financing, governance, health information, quality of care, and community engagement, calling for a unified call to action to transform PHC in Pakistan.

Other in attendance included Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Minister of State for Health; Imran Nazir, Minister of Health and Population, Punjab; Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Minister of Health, Balochistan; and Ihtisham Ali, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Photos courtesy:AKU
With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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