Islamabad (GNP): Minister of State for National Health Services Dr Mukhtar Bharath has congratulated the Health Services Academy (HSA) on being recognised as a global centre of excellence. He also stressed the need for a secure and integrated national digital health system.
Speaking at the 16th Annual International Public Health Conference 2026 at the academy in Islamabad, Dr Mukhtar said the government is working on a national health information system that would allow federal and provincial authorities to exchange health data securely.
Data-sharing agreements have already been signed with Sindh and Balochistan, he said, and the government will seek similar arrangements with the other provinces and territories.
The Ministry of Health is drafting a Health Security Act to protect health data and ensure it is used responsibly and with due regard for privacy. The law would set out a legal framework for sharing health information between the federation, the provinces and the territories.
Dr Mukhtar said a successful digital health system needs more than the collection of data: the data must also be accurate, reliable and interoperable. He named data protection and the ethical use of artificial intelligence as essential parts of digital healthcare.
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Technology, he added, has the potential to transform how healthcare is delivered, and he urged the Health Services Academy to train health professionals with modern digital skills.
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.
