News Desk
Islamabad : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, emphasizing universal access to healthcare as a moral obligation.
In a statement released by the PM Office on Universal Health Coverage Day 2024, the Prime Minister lauded global initiatives for universal health coverage and pledged Pakistan’s active support for such efforts. “We consider it our moral duty to ensure accessible healthcare for all, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” the Prime Minister stated.
He stressed that compromising on health is akin to compromising on national security, prosperity, and development, which is not an option. Highlighting this year’s theme, “Health: A Government Responsibility,” he underlined the government’s obligation to prevent individuals from having to choose between essential healthcare and other basic needs like food, shelter, or education.
To this end, the government has implemented initiatives like the Health Facility Program, led by the Ministry of National Health Services under the banner “Health for All.” The program, praised internationally by organizations like the WHO, prioritizes vulnerable segments of society, providing free healthcare to millions of families.
The Prime Minister further noted ongoing investments in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote areas, ensuring access to life-saving medicines. “Pakistan is resolute in achieving the health-related SDGs by 2030,” he said, adding that the country will continue to collaborate with the United Nations and other global institutions to develop and strengthen frameworks that prioritize health as a fundamental human right.
