In a significant move to strengthen Pakistan’s healthcare system, Aga Khan University (AKU), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination and Provincial Health Departments, organized the Primary Health Care (PHC) Symposium.

This event, part of the PHC Learning Agenda (PLA) Initiative, gathered government officials, policymakers, health experts, and development partners to discuss innovative solutions and strategies to achieve Universal Health Coverage through a PHC approach.

Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, emphasized the critical need to improve access to quality primary health care services, highlighting the importance of learning from successful models to ensure no community is neglected. He praised the collaboration between academia, development partners, and provincial governments in strengthening PHC.

Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of AKU, described primary health care as the foundation of the health system, vital for achieving universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goals in Pakistan. He stressed the importance of initiatives like the PHC Learning Agenda in transforming policy and practice across the country.

The symposium outlined five key priorities for enhancing PHC: integrating health and population services, addressing non-communicable diseases and mental health, partnering with the private sector, improving service quality, and investing in domestic health financing.

Supported by the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the World Bank, the event included discussions on financing, governance, health information, quality of care, and community engagement. Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritizing PHC reforms and ensuring access to essential health services for every Pakistani.

Prominent attendees included Syed Murad Ali Shah, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Dr. Azra Pechuho, Imran Nazir, Bakht Muhammad Kakar, and Ihtisham Ali, reflecting a high-level commitment to PHC across all provinces. The PHC Learning Agenda, a two-year initiative by AKU and the Gates Foundation, aims to generate evidence and foster cross-provincial learning to enhance PHC readiness and resilience.