**Federal Minister Calls for Swift Rollout of National Telemedicine Project to Improve Healthcare Access**
The Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal, has called for the rapid completion of Pakistan’s National Telemedicine Project, highlighting its critical role in bringing modern healthcare solutions to the doorstep of citizens, particularly those in remote and underserved areas. The directive came during a high-level meeting to review progress on the initiative, attended by the Joint Secretary of Health, Director General of Development, and the Special Consultant on Telemedicine.
Officials presented a comprehensive update on the milestones achieved and outlined the key challenges in implementing the telemedicine program. In his remarks, Minister Kamal underscored the urgent need to expedite the project’s rollout, linking its success to improved access to quality healthcare nationwide.
“The Telemedicine Project has become a critical need of the time. We must ensure its early rollout so that the people across the country can fully benefit from this modern healthcare solution,” Kamal stated.
The project envisions the use of advanced digital technologies to connect patients with doctors and deliver essential medicines directly to their homes. Pilot programs are being launched in Karachi and Islamabad, with a broader national implementation planned in subsequent phases.
Minister Kamal emphasized that the current healthcare landscape sees seventy percent of patients bypassing primary healthcare centers and crowding tertiary hospitals, resulting in capacity overloads at major institutions. He noted that the telemedicine initiative will significantly ease this burden and extend quality medical services to communities that previously had limited access.
“This system will particularly benefit the poor and disadvantaged who cannot afford to travel to hospitals. It ensures that both consultation and essential medicines reach them where they live,” he said.
Describing the telemedicine project as a major step towards strengthening Pakistan’s primary healthcare system, the minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing accessible, efficient, and equitable healthcare through the integration of modern digital solutions.
