Pakistan has requested a one-year extension for the World Bank’s National Health Support Program (NHSP), valued at around $360 million, to ensure its successful implementation.
The program is financed by the International Development Association (IDA), with co-financing from the Global Financing Facility (GFF), the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
According to a news report, the request was made by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal during a meeting on Monday with a high-level World Bank delegation, where ongoing efforts and challenges in strengthening the country’s healthcare system were discussed.
Launched in October 2022, the NHSP aims to enhance the delivery and quality of essential health services at the primary level, promoting universal health coverage. Although the program faced some initial delays, progress has accelerated in the Ministry of National Health Services (MoNFS&R) and the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh.
During the meeting, Minister Kamal also directed the reactivation of the Inter-Ministerial Health and Population Council and instructed that an inter-provincial meeting be held this week to discuss policies and strategies for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The focus will be on strengthening health and nutrition services for women, children, and adolescents.
Further, the World Bank delegation proposed a Donor Conference within the next two to three months to discuss the Federal Health Minister’s two- to three-year vision for Pakistan’s health sector. Minister Kamal welcomed the proposal, affirming the Ministry’s full cooperation in organizing the conference to explore partnerships and investments for Pakistan’s healthcare system.
Both the Ministry and the World Bank committed to enhancing their collaboration, aiming to provide equitable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare to all Pakistanis.
