ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORTER
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has announced the launch of a telemedicine system, calling it a “silent revolution” in Pakistan’s healthcare sector. The project will officially begin on January 6 in Islamabad.
Speaking about the initiative, the minister highlighted overcrowding in both public and private hospitals, attributing it to the lack of primary and secondary healthcare systems. He said the telemedicine system will act as a substitute for primary healthcare and will be implemented in federal basic health units under a memorandum of understanding with Sehat Kahani, which will provide digital health services.
Under the project, 70% of patients currently visiting large hospitals are expected to be treated at primary health centers. In Islamabad, six locations, and in Karachi, four locations, will be equipped with telemedicine systems. At each site, patients will have simultaneous consultations with three general physicians via online cameras, with a total of 18 doctors available online.
The system will also allow doctors to issue online prescriptions and dispense medications directly, helping reduce the burden on major hospitals. The minister emphasized that many doctors, especially women, who are not currently practicing, will provide consultations from home. He called the project “the first drop of rain” in a vision initiated six months ago, with the first Basic Health Unit opening on January 6, followed by weekly openings of additional units.