As part of Pakistan’s high-level mental health engagement mission to the United States, a delegation led by Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, held strategic consultations with Professor Pamela Y Collins and Professor Judith K Bass of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to explore collaboration on strengthening Pakistan’s mental health system.
According to an official information today, the discussions focused on advancing Pakistan’s national mental health agenda and accelerating progress toward Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health through evidence-based policy development, implementation science, workforce strengthening, and innovative service delivery approaches.
Key areas of collaboration included:
Technical engagement and expert input into Pakistan’s forthcoming National Mental Health Policy, scheduled for launch during the World Mental Health Day International Event in Islamabad on October 1-2, 2026; adaptation and scale-up of collaborative care models to expand access to quality mental health services; and the development of a National Hub of Excellence for Mental Health in Pakistan, supported by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.
The discussions also covered the integration of mental health services within HIV prevention, treatment, and care programmes, as well as strengthening mental health support for healthcare providers and advancing task-sharing approaches involving pharmacists and other non-specialist providers.
Academic partnerships, capacity building, and innovative remote learning opportunities in public and global health were also identified as key areas for future collaboration.
Speaking during the meeting, Minister of State Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Malik stated that Pakistan was committed to placing mental health at the centre of its health and development agenda. He said that, through strong international partnerships, evidence-based policies, and investments in workforce and service-delivery innovations, the country aimed to build a resilient, accessible, and people-centred mental health system. He welcomed collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and other global partners as Pakistan moves toward the launch of its National Mental Health Policy and the achievement of Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health.
The Minister also formally invited Johns Hopkins leadership and collaborators to participate in the World Mental Health Day International Event in Islamabad in October 2026, which will serve as a global platform for the launch of Pakistan’s National Mental Health Policy and for advancing international dialogue on strengthening mental health systems.