Imran Zakir
KARACHI: The Directorate of Strategic Planning at the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC), in collaboration with the Sindh Health Department, held a series of interactive policy sessions with leading health-sector think tanks on Wednesday at a local hotel in Karachi. The discussions aimed to identify gaps and propose policy interventions to strengthen Sindh’s healthcare system.
Experts called for a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach, underscoring the need to prioritise the province’s primary healthcare system in future health policies. They highlighted the importance of partnerships in shaping sustainable and equitable healthcare strategies.
Participants presented key challenges and proposed solutions to enhance service delivery, improve health outcomes, and ensure policy alignment across provincial healthcare institutions. A strong focus was placed on revitalising rural healthcare through greater engagement of community health workers.
Director General Health Sindh, Dr Waqar Memon, said newly inducted healthcare staff were being posted according to domicile requirements. Some experts, however, recommended introducing a job-rotation policy to improve efficiency and exposure.
Speakers also stressed the need to upgrade curricula across all healthcare cadres, integrating research, continued medical education (CMEs), and evidence-based practices. Concerns were raised over the lack of Pakistani universities among the world’s top 1,000 institutions, reflecting broader systemic issues in health education.
The shortage of nurses in the provincial health system was also identified as a critical gap requiring urgent attention.
Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, attended the session as chief guest. Other participants included Secretary Health Rehan Iqbal Baloch; Secretary SHEC, Dr Moin; DG Health Dr Waqar Memon; Vice Chancellors Dr Amjad Siraj Memon and Dr Jahan Ara; former DUHS VC Dr Saeed Qureshi; Director Health Services Karachi, Dr Saqib Sheikh; Armed Forces Board advisor from Bahria University Dr Shahla (Gynaecology); DUHS Professor of Surgery Dr Sajida Qureshi; AKU’s Dean Dr M. Tariq; AKU Nursing Department’s Dr Tazeen Ali; Professor of Pediatrics Dr Shahla Akram; JPMC Psychiatry HOD Dr Choni Lal; and others
