Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: State Minister for National Health Services and Regulations Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malik highlighted the importance of patient interaction, enhanced awareness, inclusion of mental health components, and climate resilience within digital health solutions, saying that these factors are critical in the treatment of communicable diseases like tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and malaria. While chairing a meeting on the official launch of Pakistan’s Integrated One-Impact Community Platform, hosted by the Dopasi Foundation, aimed at strengthening community engagement and improving access to TB, HIV, and malaria treatment services, he highlighted that Pakistan continues to bear a substantial burden of communicable diseases, particularly tuberculosis, alongside ongoing challenges in HIV and malaria control. The meeting was attended by the representatives from national health programs, development partners, and civil society. The Minister of State underscored the significance of the platform as a transformative step toward a more inclusive, responsive, and people-centered health system. While the Government of Pakistan provides free-of-cost treatment for both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB through the public sector, he noted that gaps persist due to limited awareness, stigma, delayed care-seeking, and difficulties in navigating the healthcare system. Dr Malik emphasized that the One-Impact platform addresses these barriers by integrating health information, service navigation, and community feedback into a single digital interface. The platform enables patients to locate nearby health facilities, understand available services, and report challenges, thereby strengthening accountability and ensuring that patient voices are heard. He further commended Pakistan’s move toward an integrated model combining TB, HIV, and malaria services, calling it a reflection of the country’s commitment to innovation and health system strengthening. Additionally, he emphasized the need for robust data integration and building upon existing health system infrastructures to maximize impact. Highlighting the role of partnerships, the Minister acknowledged the contributions of the Stop TB Partnership for its global leadership and the Dopasi Foundation for advancing the platform in Pakistan. He also recognized the critical efforts of Provincial TB Control Programs in ensuring effective service delivery at the community level. “Free medicines save lives only when people know where to go, how to access care, and whom to turn to when they face barriers,” he stated, expressing confidence that the OneImpact platform will help bridge these gaps and contribute to a healthier Pakistan. Also speaking at the event, Aslam Ghauri, Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C), emphasized the importance of leveraging digital platforms to ensure equitable, community-level access to essential health services. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening outreach and ensuring that no individual is left behind. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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