Islamabad (GNP): Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal formally launched the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Health Services Academy (HSA) in Islamabad, in a ceremony marking a significant step forward for pharmaceutical education, public health research, and health workforce development in the country.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister expressed confidence in Pakistan’s capacity to build a stronger and more self-reliant health system, pointing to the country’s existing talent pool, institutional infrastructure, and professional expertise. He stressed the importance of nurturing doctors, pharmacists, and public health practitioners who combine technical competence with integrity and a genuine commitment to public service.
Central to his address was a call to fundamentally reorient Pakistan’s health priorities, away from a predominantly curative approach and toward prevention. “Our goal should be to keep people healthy and prevent them from becoming patients,” he said, arguing that expanding hospital capacity alone would not resolve the country’s health challenges.
He maintained that equal investment must go into disease prevention, primary healthcare, health promotion, and the foundational pillars of the health system, describing a robust essential health infrastructure as critical not only for health security but for Pakistan’s long-term economic stability and development.
The Minister also drew attention to the strain that Pakistan’s rapidly expanding population is placing on health services, underlining the urgency of developing a trained, ethically grounded, and prevention-oriented health workforce capable of safeguarding communities and reducing the disease burden before it escalates.
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Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan described pharmaceutical sciences as a cornerstone of any functioning healthcare system and said the new school would significantly enhance HSA’s contributions to pharmacy education, public health policy, regulatory affairs, and health systems research.
Registrar Prof. Dr. Tariq Mehmood Ali reflected on HSA’s remarkable institutional journey, from a modest training facility to a fully-fledged national public health university with a large student body, multiple academic schools, and extensive partnerships with public health bodies, regulatory authorities, and government organisations across Pakistan.
The inauguration of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences is widely regarded as a meaningful advance in strengthening pharmacy education, fostering research and innovation, and building the public health workforce Pakistan needs for a healthier and more resilient future. The ceremony was attended by health professionals, faculty, pharmacists, academics, Dr. Akhtar Abbas Khan, Secretary of the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, and other distinguished guests.
