Indus Vitals

Health experts call for higher tobacco taxes, tighter regulation of nicotine products, and nationwide cessation clinics as Pakistan faces mounting deaths and economic losses from smoking. IV Report KARACHI: Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, chest disease specialists at an event organised by the Aga Khan University (AKU) in collaboration with the Pakistan Chest Society (PCS) on May 29 called on the government to take immediate action against the sale and use of tobacco products. They warned that smoking not only claims countless productive lives but also places a massive burden on Pakistan's healthcare system, forcing the government to divert substantial revenues to treat tobacco-related diseases. The experts recommended a series of urgent policy measures to combat tobacco use. These included raising taxes on tobacco products to reduce consumption and generate revenue for public health initiatives; regulating emerging nicotine products to restrict access and marketing ...

Shahani highlights digital rights, vows continued engagement with youth across Sindh KARACHI: In an effort to directly connect with students and address their pressing concerns, Special Assistant (SA) to the Chief Minister of Sindh on Student Affairs, Mansoor Ali Shahani, visited Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) on May 26. Speaking at a seminar, Shahani urged vice-chancellors of universities across Sindh to expedite the long-awaited student union elections. The seminar, titled “Students’ Issues and the Bill of Digital Rights” , was organised by the provincial Student Affairs Department and attended by DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Jahan Ara Hassan, senior faculty members, and a large number of students, as per an official handout. “Vice-chancellors must act without delay to draft election policies and hold student union elections,” Shahani asserted in his keynote speech, adding that the Student Union Bill has already been passed by the Sindh Assembly , removing any legislati...

Without quality in every dose, a doctor’s efforts fall short,” Say pharma stakeholders in Karachi IV Report KARACHI: Speakers at a national workshop on May 24 underscored the urgent need for unified efforts among pharmaceutical manufacturers, regulatory authorities, and the scientific community to ensure a more vibrant and effective medical supply system in Pakistan. The one-day workshop, held at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, was jointly organised by the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMMDR) and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The event drew participation from government officials, regulators, industry leaders, and academia. In his address, Tauqeer Ul Haq, Chairman of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), highlighted the local industry’s robust footprint, stating that more than 700 medicine manufacturing companies were responsible for producin...

SHCC's effectiveness compromised due to vacant positions in Board of Commissioners, hindering healthcare regulation and decision-making By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Years after its inception under Sindh government legislation, the provincial healthcare watchdog continues to face challenges, with its board of commissioners currently operating with two vacant positions, including a representative nominated by the Chief Minister, it has emerged. A source in the health circles emphasised that the existing Board of Commissioners (BoC) of the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), which started functioning with an incomplete composition in September 2023, is still working with a “limited wisdom.” The board is meeting routinely for agenda matters and policy decisions, pending nominations of two replacement members, the source noted. The SHCC had previously functioned without a BoC for about one and a half years, hindering major advancements by the statutory autonomous body. The interim provi...

KARACHI: First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and World Bank Managing Director for Operations Anna Bjerde distributed home ownership certificates to women in Nazar Muhammad Laghari Goth, a flood-affected village in District Shaheed Benazirabad, during a visit on May 23. They were accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine, and Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affected (SPHF) CEO Khalid Mahmood Sheikh. The visit focused on the ongoing rehabilitation efforts under the SPHF programme, which is tasked with rebuilding homes destroyed during the 2022 floods. According to an official statement, the programme is being implemented by the Sindh government with financial and technical support from the World Bank. During the visit, the delegation was briefed that all 32 homes destroyed in the village have been rebuilt. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Anna Bjerde met members of the local Village Reconstruction C...

KARACHI: The case of Baby Safa, a patient from Karachi, at the Sindh Institute of Child Health & Neonatology (SICHN), highlights the critical need for awareness and action against neonatal tetanus in Pakistan. The institute's newsletter lately carried the inspiring story of the baby (being reproduced below), showcasing the hospital's dedication to providing life-saving care to newborns, which demonstrates the impact of timely and effective medical intervention.                                                              ***** Neonatal tetanus in Pakistan: A wake-up call through Safa’s story. Neonatal tetanus is a life-threatening infection caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria, typically entering a newborn's body through unhygienic delivery or cord care practices. It leads to severe muscle stiffness, spasms, difficulty breathin...

As budget negotiations unfold across the region, concerns mount over reported facilitation and policy incentives extended to formula milk marketers—raising red flags about how corporate interests can overshadow public health. In light of this, a February 2022 report by Social Track (Karachi), drawing on a major WHO study, remains strikingly relevant today. It offers a sobering reminder of how deeply formula milk marketing penetrates health systems, influences feeding choices, and undermines breastfeeding culture globally. With formula sales surging and breastfeeding stagnating, it’s time to revisit that report and ask: are current budget decisions aligned with the best interests of mothers and children?                     ------------------------------------- WHO report warns against formula milk marketing strategies KARACHI: A lately released international report by WHO says that over a half of the parents and pregnant women...

Sindh strengthens immunisation infrastructure with WHO-backed mobility push and government-funded post-vaccination care IV Report KARACHI: In a bid to improve the efficiency of vaccinators working in remote and hard-to-reach areas, the Sindh Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) began distributing motorbikes to vaccinators at an event held on May 16, attended by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. According to an official handout, 300 motorbikes are being distributed among vaccinators in 21 selected districts to improve access to underserved communities. These vehicles are in addition to the 55 scooters previously provided to female vaccinators by the EPI. The mobility initiative has been financially supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the handout added. During the same event, the health minister also launched a new paracetamol drops distribution scheme for families bringing their children for routine immunisation at designated vaccination centers acros...

India’s unilateral actions on Indus Waters Treaty termed violation of international law By IV Report KARACHI: The Hamdard Shura—a monthly thinkers’ forum hosted under the aegis of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan (HFP)—convened on May 14 to deliberate on the country’s worsening water crisis, with retired General Moinuddin Haider, former governor of Sindh, chairing the session. Held under the theme “Pakistan’s Water Crisis: Technical or Political?” , the session attracted a diverse panel of experts and thinkers, including HFP President Sadia Rashid, who jointly raised alarm over the national water emergency and the geopolitical tensions surrounding it. Speakers at the forum criticised the Indian government’s announcement to unilaterally halt water flow to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a “grave violation of international law.” “India must understand that if this treaty is annulled, Pakistan will once again have a rightful claim over the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi riv...

IV Report KARACHI: Leading medical experts have raised serious concerns over the alarming rise in obesity in Pakistan, terming it the "mother of all non-communicable diseases" and linking it directly to life-threatening health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, infertility, and early mortality. Speaking at a health awareness event held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on May 12, specialists stressed the urgent need for lifestyle changes to curb the rapidly growing obesity crisis across all age groups. The event, comprising expert lectures and a screening and awareness camp for KPC members and their families, revealed staggering statistics: 80% of the population reportedly has an unhealthy waist circumference , 35% of women , and 28% of children are classified as obese. “Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern or lifestyle choice—it is a disease,” emphasised Dr Asma Ahmed , a prominent endocrinologist from Aga Khan University Hospital. Citing survey data, Dr A...