The 3rd meeting of the Joint Healthcare Regulators Forum was organized by the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) in support with the Ministry of National Health Services and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Karachi. MPA Nida Khuhro, Parliamentary Secretary for Health & Population Welfare Department, Sindh, grace the occasion as the chief guest, while the country representative of WHO, Federal Secretary MNHSR&C, CEOs of all Healthcare Commissions of provinces, representatives of PMDC, National council of Tib, National Council for Homeopathy, Pharmacy, CPSP and other development partners.
Nida Khuhro shared that Sindh has built a strong regulatory system after years of learning and legislation. She pointed out that with technology changing fast, Sindh now aims to create a digital health framework covering telemedicine, e‑prescriptions, and online pharmacies to keep patient safety uncompromised. Ms. Khuhro also commended the SHCC for its aggressive push in the private sector to close gaps left in public health services. She added that Sindh is setting up a Clinical Governance Academy to train staff in quality assurance, risk management, and evidence based policy. “Sindh is also expanding its system to ensure medicines and devices meet global standards, including minimum safety norms, infection control, and emergency governance. In addition, Sindh is enforcing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements for all healthcare professionals to align with global standards.
Dr. Luo Dapeng, Country Head of WHO Pakistan, said WHO is proud to support this platform in Pakistan, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthen regulatory and accountability coherence across the country’s health system. He noted that WHO is supporting federal and provincial governments and regulatory bodies for enhancing the resilience of health system in the country.
Federal Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh added via video link that the Ministry has introduced the National Blood Transfusion Policy and also drafted the policy of Thalassaemia Prevention and Genetic Disorders. He urged all provincial and other healthcare regulators to implement these policies in their respective jurisdictions.
Dr. Ahson Qavi Siddiqi, CEO SHCC highlighted that many scopes are listed in existing regulations, healthcare has changed dramatically over the past 78 years, with new technologies and treatments emerging that are not reflected in current documents. This gap, he said needs to be addressed through such forums. HEC to reconcile the degree programs which are related to healthcare but these not associated with healthcare. HEC should intervene and change the names of degree programs those impersonated as medical graduate and are responsible for promoting quackery in the society.
Dr. Khalid Shaikh Chairperson SHCC in his conclusion remarks said the presence of all healthcare officials across Pakistan reflected no only their intuitional commitment but also a shared national vision. Today’s meeting demonstrated the urgent need, immense value and importance of this platform. He emphasized that issues such as patient safety, implementation of standards, changes in medical curriculum and the menace of quackery cannot be tackled in isolation.
Prominent participants included CEO Balochistan Healthcare Commission Dr. Noor Muhammad Qazi, CEO Islamabad Health Regulatory Authority Dr. Syed Ahmed Raza Kazmi, CEO KP Dr. Nadeem Akhtar and President and Vice President of Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Allied Health Professionals Council, representatives from CPSP, Higher Education Commission, Deputy Director Federal Ministry of Health attended the session while CEO Punjab Healthcare Commission and representative from PMDC joined via video link.
