Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination (Pakistan)

Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination
Agency overview
Formed  ()
Headquarters Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Rashida Malik, Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination
Website http://www.dra.gov.pk/

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination is a Cabinet level ministry of the Government of Pakistan. The Ministry of Health was devolved to the provinces under the 18th Amendment, by the Federal Government, on June 30, 2011.[2] However, it was re-installed by Prime Minister Khoso, as the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, on the advice of Dr. Sania Nishtar, who became the Federal Minister in April 2013 as its first head.

The Ministry is currently headed by Saira Afzal Tarar as Minister of State for National Health Services Regulation and Coordination.[1]

Description

Most of the program and responsibility of Health Ministry are transferred to provincial health departments after Constitutional requirement in 2011[3]

It is a branch of the Government, which is the department for provision of medical services, responsible to frame the health policies and to enforce the same at a national level. It is headed by the Health Minister of Pakistan on democratic level, while controlled by the Federal Secretary.

Besides the federal health department, each of the four provinces of Pakistan has its respective health department and Secretariat, under the supervision of a health minister of that province, controlled by a Secretary, Additional Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, and a Director General Health Services, assisted by Director and Deputy Directors. All stand responsible to control, manage, administer medical service matters to the citizenry of their jurisdiction and frame and enforce health policies in their respective provinces in line with that promulgated by the federal health department.

Divisions

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan is an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Federal Government with its headquarters at Islamabad and sub offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. The body was established in 2012 and is the largest department in ministry.

Divisions

Tobacco Control Cell

A separate cell was created in 2007. The rationale for the creation of the Cell stemmed from Pakistan’s international obligation. Pakistan is a signatory to WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.[9]

The aim of Tobacco Control Cell is to enhance tobacco control efforts in Pakistan.

National Institute of Population Studies

National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) is the research organization established by the government since 1986.

The NIPS has been mandated to act as a technical arm of the Government for undertaking high quality research and to produce evidence-based data, information for utilization by the Public sector and others agencies for policy formulation, strategic planning and making reference in the spheres of demography, population & development and health.[10]

Directorate of Malaria Control

Directorate of Malaria Control is a separate cell in ministry to co-ordinate country-wide efforts for implementation of Roll Back Malaria initiative for 50% reduction in the malaria burden in Pakistan by the year 2010. By the year 2015 >70% of the high risk population of Pakistan having access and using effective malaria prevention and treatment.[11]

Programs

The Ministry directly runs several health service projects on national level such as Malaria Control Program, National Tuberculosis Control Program.

National AIDS Control Program

National AIDS Control Program (NACP) was established in 1986-87. In its early stages, the Program focused on laboratory diagnosis of suspected HIV cases.[12]

National Tuberculosis Control Program

Having treated 700,000 TB patients so far, free diagnosis and treatment, and public awareness regarding the disease are the main components of this program.[13]

Programs/Division devolved to Provinces

The following programs have been transferred to provincial health departments after Constitutional requirement in 2011.[3]

National Programme for Family Planning & Primary Health Care, Polio Eradication Program, National Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) Program, Expanded Program on Immunization and National Program for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis.

See also

External links

References

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