QUETTA: Balochistan’s Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar stressed on Friday that a robust primary healthcare structure is essential for transforming the province’s health system and providing better medical services to its people.

“There is a need for integrated efforts in areas like immunisation, maternal and childcare, nutrition, and water and sanitation,” the minister said while speaking at the Balochistan Health Care Symposium, organised by the provincial health depa­rtment with Unicef’s support.

The event aimed to improve the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and reinforce the province’s primary healthcare network.

Among the participants were Special Secretary for Health Shahak Baloch, Director General of Health Dr Ameen Khan Mandokhail, Secretary Population Welfare Abdullah Khan, PPHI CEO Hameedullah Nasar, Provincial EPI Coordinator Dr Kamalan Gichki, Deputy PC EPI Dr Zaffar Iqbal Khosti, senior government officials, health experts, donors, international organisations, civil society representatives and frontline health workers.

Health Minister Kakar acknowledged the shortage of vaccinators — only 1,400 across the province — as a major barrier to providing services in remote areas.

To address this gap, he announced the government is shifting tasks by training Lady Health Workers (LHWs), Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) and Field Medical Technicians (FMTs) to deliver timely community healthcare.

He noted that immunisation coverage in Balochistan is just 37.7 per cent compared to 88pc in Punjab, calling for greater community engagement, parental education and behavioural change to restore public trust.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the health department and emphasised the need for a clear policy on primary healthcare. “We must prioritise disease prevention over treatment,” the minister said.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2025