US ambassador for enhanced collaboration in health sector

ISLAMABAD: Donald Blome, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, underscored the importance of reinforcing cooperation in the health sector between the two countries, especially in the fields of nutrition, maternal and newborn health, the management of infectious diseases, and family planning.

The US ambassador, accompanied by USAID Mission Director Kate Somvongsiri, conveyed this sentiment during a meeting with Caretaker Federal Minister for Health, Dr Nadeem Jan.

Ambassador Blome reaffirmed his country's commitment to supporting Pakistan's health sector across various domains, hailing the cooperation between the Ministry of National Health Services and the US government.

In response, Dr Nadeem Jan expressed gratitude for the continuous and purpose-driven support provided by the US government in the health sector, acknowledging the assistance of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Centers for Disease Control.

The meeting deliberated on collaboration within the context of the initial two rounds of the Pak-US Health Dialogue and resolved to continue fostering mutual cooperation.

The minister elucidated the aim and significance of Pakistan hosting the first Global Health Security Summit, emphasising the need for global preparedness before the onset of pandemics. He mentioned that representatives from countries across all continents were being invited to the summit.

Dr Jan stressed the pivotal role of health diplomacy in the present era, underlining the need for unified global action against diseases, irrespective of borders or nationalities.

He said Pakistan anticipates strengthening the government-to-government collaboration with the United States and firmly believed in fostering a productive partnership for the welfare of its  people.

The minister reiterated his commitment to Universal Health Coverage, highlighting his efforts to overhaul the primary healthcare system, ultimately reducing the burden on secondary and tertiary care facilities.

He said the government is reviving 430 Basic Health Units with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the first phase, while an initiative is underway to digitise the entire health system.

The minister expressed the intention to pool resources and conduct a comprehensive mapping exercise to identify the areas and communities most in need, to allocate resources accordingly.