Karachi (GNP): The Aga Khan University (AKU) has launched the AKU Manual of Pediatrics, a free clinical resource developed locally to help healthcare providers diagnose and manage common childhood health conditions across Pakistan.
Created in collaboration with AKU’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, the manual offers evidence-based guidance for pediatricians, family physicians, medical officers, residents, and other healthcare professionals, and is freely accessible through the AKU Manual website and mobile app.
Launch Ceremony
The manual was formally unveiled at an event attended by Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal as chief guest.
Kamal said strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system requires practical, evidence-based tools to support medical professionals, praising the manual as an important contribution toward improving the consistency and quality of child healthcare in the country.
The event brought together representatives from government, academia, and professional medical bodies, including the Pakistan Pediatric Association, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Armed Forces Postgraduate Medical Institute, and the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology, alongside pediatric specialists and healthcare professionals.
About the Manual
Developed by AKU’s Centre for Clinical Best Practices in partnership with its Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, the manual contains 88 evidence-based clinical guidelines spanning 14 pediatric subspecialties.
Designed for use at the point of care, it aims to provide practical, bedside-ready guidance tailored specifically to Pakistan’s healthcare context. Dr. Adil H. Haider, former Dean of AKU Medical College, serves as the manual’s editor-in-chief.
The launch event included keynote speeches and a panel discussion on how locally developed clinical guidelines can improve pediatric care outcomes, ahead of the manual’s official digital release.
Remarks from AKU Leadership
AKU President Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin said the manual reflects a broader goal of putting reliable medical knowledge directly into the hands of those caring for children, noting that clinical decisions grounded in evidence and adapted to local realities help build a healthcare system where every child has a fairer chance at good health.
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Professor Dr. Fyezah Jehan, Chair of AKU’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, added that while medical science is universal, its application must reflect local context — noting that the manual aims to help bridge the gap between global medical evidence and its practical use within Pakistan’s healthcare system.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
