The Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations has sought Ministry of Information Technology’s support to reshape the national healthcare system by digitalising the countrywide health system.

The request was formally extended by the Federal Health Minister for National Health Services and Regulations Mustafa Kamal during a meeting with the Federal Minister for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima Khawaja during her visit to the Health Ministry, here on Tuesday.

During the meeting both the ministers discussed avenues of cooperation in leveraging information technology to strengthen healthcare delivery across Pakistan.

Minister Kamal expressed concern over the burden on major hospitals, pointing out that “70 percent of patients visiting large hospitals should ideally be treated at primary healthcare centers. The absence of basic health units forces people to seek care at tertiary facilities, increasing patient load and stretching resources.”