Bharath stresses need for a national health emergency response system

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for National Health Services and Regulations, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, on Tuesday, emphasised the importance of a coordinated, resilient and proactive national health emergency response system, calling on the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to introduce integrated weather and disaster alerts to deal with health emergencies.

While addressing a conference on National Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, he said that upon issuance of an alert, health teams, medicines, essential medical equipment and other necessary resources should be made available in the affected districts without delay.

The State Minister, Federal Secretary and Director General Health provided their valuable insights and recommendations to strengthen Pakistan’s national health emergency preparedness and response mechanisms. Their contributions focused on enhancing institutional coordination, strengthening preparedness capacities, improving timely response mechanisms, and ensuring effective coordination among relevant stakeholders during public health emergencies.

Dr Bharath underscored the need for continued collaboration among federal and provincial health authorities, development partners, and other relevant institutions to strengthen the country’s capacity to effectively anticipate, prepare for, and respond to health emergencies.

The event was organised by M/o NHSRC in coordination with WHO, UNFPA, UNIOM, UNICEF, Save the Children, and the IRC.

He stressed that climate change had become a permanent reality in Pakistan, directly affecting the population and putting additional pressure on the health system. “Looking at climate trends over the past several decades, it is clear that climate change has become a permanent reality in Pakistan,” he said, adding that the country was increasingly experiencing extreme weather events, including severe monsoons, abnormal rainfall, cloudbursts, floods and other climate-related disasters.

Dr Bharath noted that a large number of people were displaced or forced to migrate every year due to climate-related disasters. Such situations significantly increased the risk of malaria, dengue, cholera, diarrhoea and other infectious and epidemic diseases, while children, elderly people and other vulnerable groups faced additional health challenges.

The minister said the country could no longer afford to respond only after an emergency occurred and stressed the need to develop a comprehensive and sustainable system for preparedness, response and recovery.

He reiterated close coordination among the Ministry of Health, provincial health departments, the NDMA, international development and aid agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to formulate clear and practical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

“These SOPs should clearly define the level, institution and mechanism through which the health sector will respond to disasters or mass displacement,” he said.

Dr Bharath termed a trained and effective health workforce the most important component of the emergency preparedness system. He stressed that district-level health teams should be trained in managing climate-related disasters, disease outbreaks, emergency medical assistance, the healthcare needs of affected populations and the provision of services in temporary camps.

The minister said the conference should be followed by concrete measures, including training and capacity-building of the health workforce, development of SOPs for healthcare delivery during disasters, clear protocols covering the relocation, rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced populations, and special arrangements for vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children.

“We need the federal and provincial governments, district administrations, international partners, aid agencies and all relevant stakeholders to work under a common framework to effectively protect our population from the increasing impacts of climate change,” he concluded.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Secretary Health highlighted the importance of robust institutional frameworks, effective governance and inter-sectoral coordination to ensure a timely and efficient response to emerging health threats.

The Director General Health also shared technical perspectives on strengthening national preparedness and response capacities, with particular emphasis on surveillance, risk assessment, rapid response mechanisms and coordinated action during health emergencies.

The Health Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national health emergency preparedness and response capacities and fostering collaboration among all relevant stakeholders to safeguard public health and ensure a resilient health system.

The event was attended by all the provincial health departments, wherein they highlighted the need for further enhancement in strengthening coordination and capacity building, in terms of disaster training and advocacy.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026