KARACHI: The provincial health department has operationalised digital data systems at 18 basic health units as part of its initiative to make public health services efficient in the first phase.
According to officials, 150 healthcare centres will have digital data systems by February 2027, and gradually all primary healthcare centres will be covered under the initiative for the first quarter of 2028.
Part of the digital reforms is to set up an electronic medical records system (EMR) across all primary healthcare centres by 2028.
This system will have information about a patient’s medical history, outpatient department (OPD) visits, medicine provision, emergency services, maternal and child healthcare, nutrition and family planning data.
“The system will reduce paperwork and enable data sharing among different healthcare facilities, improving coordination and efficiency,” said a spokesperson for the health department.
To make administrative processes transparent, the health department has already implemented a human resource management information system under which all information related to applications for leave, approvals, transfers and other administrative and disciplinary matters concerning officers and employees in Grades 16 to 20 is being processed through a fully digital portal.
“During September and October 2026, more than 700 leave applications were processed and approved through the portal. The portal for employee promotions and transfers is also being integrated into the system.
“For the first time, digital registration of lady health workers and the preparation of their geographical polygon maps have been completed.”
Officials further stated that the performance of community health workers, along with services related to immunisation, nutrition and women’s health, would be tracked daily through a mobile application.
Under the World Bank-supported 1,000 Days Programme, work is underway on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 340 healthcare facilities in flood-affected districts and other areas.
The portal is being used to monitor progress at 276 facilities undergoing complete reconstruction and 64 facilities undergoing rehabilitation.
Monthly photographic records and progress reports are uploaded online to ensure transparency and effective oversight.
Other planned and ongoing digital initiatives include setting up the Sindh Human Organ Transplant Authority (SHOTA) Portal to monitor organ donors and recipients; Project Management Tool to track milestones of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and key programmes; vaccinator performance dashboard to monitor vaccination campaigns in real time; annual development programme portal and inventory management system to maintain online records of development schemes, hospital machinery and medical equipment.
“The overall objective of these digital reforms is to ensure the timely provision of quality healthcare services to the people of Sindh, both on their doorstep and in hospitals across the province,” the spokesperson said.
Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2026
