Health Minister urges global investment in human capital at World Health Assembly

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2026) Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal called on the international community to jointly invest in human capital, stressing that global collaboration and partnerships were essential to address emerging health challenges.

According to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, the minister made these remarks while addressing the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, where he highlighted Pakistan’s progress in the public health sector despite multiple challenges.

He said Pakistan had achieved significant improvements in key health indicators, including reductions in maternal and child mortality rates, expansion of immunization coverage, and an increase in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) index from 40 to 56 percent.

The minister said national efforts against tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, dengue and hepatitis had also been further strengthened across the country.

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The minister noted that the country’s nearly 188 medical colleges were producing more than 22,000 doctors annually, many of whom were serving both Pakistan and the international community.

Speaking about Pakistan’s anti-polio campaign, Mustafa Kamal said eradication of the disease remained the government’s top priority and appreciated continued international support in this regard.

“Pakistan is close to achieving the goal of becoming a polio-free country,” he stated.

Highlighting ongoing reforms, the minister said work on the country’s 10-year Health and Population Strategy was progressing rapidly, adding that Pakistan was gradually shifting from a curative to a preventive healthcare model.

He further said Pakistan had approved its first National Vaccine Policy and was promoting national and international partnerships to enhance local vaccine production capacity.