Karachi:The University of Karachi, in collaboration with Al-Kawthar University, inaugurated a three-day long first international conference on Public Health Governance and Sustainable Health Systems 2026 under the theme ‘Governing for Health: Equity, Resilience, and Innovation Towards a Sustainable Public Health Future’ at the HEJ Research Institute Auditorium, KU, on Wednesday.
The opening session underscored the urgent need for preventive strategies, effective governance, and equitable access to health services in Pakistan.
Vice Chancellor, Health Services Academy Islamabad, Professor Dr Shehzad Ali Khan informed the audience that Pakistan’s health system has evolved into a mixed model comprising both public and private sectors.
He highlighted that Pakistan has approximately 290,000 doctors, 130,000 hospital beds, 108,000 community health workers, and 16,000 health facilities.
Professor Dr Shehzad Ali Khan revealed that 38 percent of men and nine percent of women use tobacco in some form. In urban areas, 65 percent of the population consumes less than one full serving of fruit daily, while in rural areas the figure rises to 79 percent.
He added that nearly 90 percent of the population consumes less than two servings of vegetables daily, and a similar proportion lacks recreational physical activity. Among children under five, diarrhea prevalence is 11 percent and pneumonia six percent. Around nine percent of the population is affected by Hepatitis C and four percent by Hepatitis B.
Stunting affects 42.7 percent of children, the second highest rate globally after Afghanistan. Malnutrition indicators show 17.7 percent of children suffer from wasting, 28.9 percent are underweight, and 9.5 percent are overweight.
He noted that Iron deficiency affects 28.6 percent of the population, zinc deficiency 18.6 percent, while anemia among women stands at 54 percent. Vitamin D deficiency is 79.7 percent, Vitamin A deficiency is 27.3 percent. Nearly 18 percent of women are underweight and 26 percent overweight.
He emphasized shifting focus from treatment alone to prevention and upstream approaches, tailored to local needs and realities, ensuring equitable access to basic health, clean environment, protection, and quality medical services for all citizens.
The Chairperson of the Sindh Higher Education Commission, Dr Tariq Rafi stressed that hospitals, medicines, and modern equipment alone cannot ensure a strong health system. Skilled human resources, robust administrative leadership, and evidence-based policymaking are indispensable.
He underlined the role of universities in preparing doctors, nurses, pathologists, administrators, researchers, and policymakers.
The Executive Director NICVD Karachi Professor Dr. Tariq Saghir said that a Quality Assurance Department is being established in the institution, which is an urgent necessity.
He explained that hospitals generally lack an effective quality assurance system, although its fundamental purpose is to ensure continuous monitoring and improvement of patient care and treatment standards.
He emphasized that improvement in hospitals can only be achieved through effective governance, and for this, all concerned individuals must fulfill their responsibilities and play their roles in a meaningful and efficient manner.
Earlier, KU Director ICCBS Professor Dr Muhammad Raza Shah delivered the inaugural address, outlining the objectives of the conference and stressing that prioritizing public health is essential for steering society towards progress.