Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulations, Syed Mustafa Kamal met Indonesian Health Minister on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, where the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and agreed to enhance collaboration in the health sector.
According to Ministry officials here on Friday, during the meeting, Mustafa Kamal briefed the Indonesian minister regarding the ongoing reforms in Pakistan’s healthcare system, particularly efforts aimed at strengthening vaccine production and disease prevention.
He said Pakistan currently provided free vaccines against 13 diseases to children under the national immunization programme, which were imported with the support of international organizations.
The minister said a significant share of vaccine financing was presently being covered by global partners, easing the burden on the national exchequer. However, he cautioned that external funding support would end by 2030, making it necessary for Pakistan to build self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing. Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan was committed to local vaccine production and was actively working to accelerate indigenous manufacturing capacity.
Calling Indonesia a key partner in this initiative, he said Pakistan had already formulated a national vaccine policy to support long-term health security and sustainable healthcare development. Both sides agreed to promote cooperation in healthcare and work jointly to improve public health systems in their respective countries.
