Health-Strategy Punjab first province to finalize health workforce strategy

LAHORE, Oct 21 :Punjab Health Department has finalized the Health Workforce Strategy within the first 100 days of the incumbent government, which made Punjab the first province who accomplished the task.

The task was carried out under the supervision of Health Minister Punjab Dr Yasmin Rashid.

The ‘Punjab Experience Sharing Workshop’ was organized recently by the World Health Organisation in Islamabad and Lahore, with technical partnership of Punjab Public Health Agency (PPHA) and the Punjab Health Department to present Punjab’s Health Workforce Profile 2018, Health Workforce

Observatory Conceptual Framework and Punjab Health Workforce Strategic Framework 2018-2030.

The workshop brought together more than 50 senior national and international experts from Rio De Janeiro State University, University of Health Sciences, Chiang Mai Health University, Directorate General of Nursing, College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council,

Pakistan Nursing Council, Pakistan Pharmacy Council, King Edward Medical University, Health Services Academy, Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital and Department of Health officials.

PPHA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Shabnam Sarfraz said that maternal and neonatal child health, family planning and nutrition would be among the top priority on the agenda. She reinstated the government’s commitment towards addressing health workforce deficits in the province.

“It is critical that existing information is reviewed comprehensively, and utilised for extraction of actionable intelligence, before jumping to introducing new strategies or policies for health professionals,” said Dr Mario Roberto Dal Poz, who was in Punjab as part of the WHO Mission.