Mustafa Kamal advocates for telemedicine to revolutionize healthcare in Pakistan

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has stressed the need to integrate telemedicine into Pakistan's healthcare system. During his visit to PIMS Hospital in Islamabad, he noted that traditional hospital care alone can no longer meet the demands of the entire population, particularly in areas lacking basic health units. This shortfall forces many patients to turn to major hospitals, further straining already overburdened facilities. Kamal advocated for a shift toward telemedicine a practice gaining global traction explaining that it would allow for consultations, prescriptions, and follow-up care to be delivered directly to patients' homes. “We need to provide medicines and doctors at people’s doorsteps,” he declared, urging the country to embrace modern healthcare solutions that reduce reliance on hospitals and improve accessibility.

During his visit, the minister also highlighted recent upgrades at PIMS, including the construction of seven new state-of-the-art operation theatres at a cost of Rs 2.1 billion, while acknowledging that the healthcare system still has room for improvement. He clarified that there are no current plans to privatize PIMS through a public-private partnership, and noted that work on the health card scheme is underway. Listening to patients’ concerns about shortages of medicines, beds, and even essential services like X-ray films, Kamal addressed issues such as the lack of ICU beds for critical cases. In response, PIMS Executive Director Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar explained that ICU beds are not currently allocated for cancer patients. Kamal directed hospital authorities to resolve these issues and enhance the facility’s services for better patient care.