ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday admitted that 68 percent of diseases in Pakistan were caused by consuming contaminated water as the country has no effective sewage treatment mechanism.

“From the peaks of Gilgit to the shores of Karachi, sewage is mixing with drinking water. Pakistan has become a leading country in patients suffering from Hepatitis C and diabetes. 40pc of Pakistani children are malnourished, leading to stunted growth. Polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. On the other hand 26 million children are out of school,” he said while addressing to participants of a conference.

The conference titled “Combat Diarrhoeal Diseases and Strengthen Health Preparedness” was organised by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The minister said that the conference was a landmark initiative to advance Pakistan’s capacity in outbreak preparedness and diarrhoeal disease control.

Admits country has no sewage treatment mechanism

Reflecting on the overwhelming strain on healthcare facilities, Minister Kamal remarked, “If you visit Pims or any other hospital, it feels like a public gathering just ended. Pims Hospital was originally built for a limited number of people, but today, millions are seeking treatment there. It is said worldwide that prevention is better than cure. It is impossible to meet the demand for healthcare with these indicators. Reducing population growth must be made a part of national policy,” he added.

He revealed that Pakistan lacked a universal medical record for patients and without a national medical record, it was impossible to track a patient’s history.

“We are launching a universal medical record system where the CNIC number will serve as the medical record number,” he said.

While suggesting solutions to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system, he said introducing telemedicine will reduce pressure on hospitals.

Chief Executive Officer of NIH Dr Mohammad Salman emphasised that the gathering would directly contribute to public health strengthening in Pakistan.

“This will be achieved by informing policy updates on cholera outbreak response and AMR control, enhancing national capacity in disease surveillance and pathogen genomics, and supporting the operationalisation of WHO frameworks like Ending Cholera: A Global Roadmap to 2030,” he said.

Dr Massab Umair, Principal Scientific Officer and HOD Virology at NIH, highlighted the conference’s profound impact.

Sessions were organised around five key themes: Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation; Laboratory Systems and Pathogen Genomics; Public Health Nutrition and Food Safety; Advocacy, Policy, and Community Engagement; and Vaccines and Drug Research.

UK supported 250-bed hospital

London’s Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust will provide specialist knowledge and advice on hospital planning, staffing and training to Novacare.

The hospital is designed to offer comprehensive care across 28 clinical specialties, including cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and maternal health. It is set to open in 2026 and will feature advanced infrastructure such as smart building management systems, AI-optimised vertical transportation, and infection control and fall prevention technologies.

British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott said: “This agreement is bringing the UK’s world leading healthcare expertise to Pakistan, and in turn support the UK’s NHS. Through sharing the NHS’s cutting edge clinical best practices, and through helping to develop staff, this agreement will directly help to save lives.”

She visited the construction of the hospital with the UK Trade Envoy to Pakistan, Mohammad Yasin MP, who is on a 3-day visit to Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2025