Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal, has announced strong support for the national expansion of EZShifa’s “Digital Clinic” initiative, calling it a transformative step toward improving access to healthcare across Pakistan.
Read More: AKU Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health Launches Immunization Project in Balochistan
In a recent meeting with EZShifa’s Chief Technology Officer, the Minister was briefed on the platform’s core capabilities designed to bridge critical healthcare gaps in underserved regions. “The implementation of telemedicine in the health sector will prove to be a revolutionary step,” Kamal stated.
He highlighted the limitations of Pakistan’s current healthcare infrastructure, noting that “a large segment of the population is unable to reach hospitals,” and pointed out that “currently, 70% of patients bypass Basic Health Units and head straight to major hospitals.” Kamal emphasized that telemedicine can reduce the burden on tertiary care hospitals by enhancing the effectiveness of local health centers.
“A medical consultation is now just a phone call away,” the Minister added, underscoring the potential of widespread digital connectivity to deliver timely health services, particularly to patients in remote and rural areas.
The nationwide rollout will be implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Technology providers will be selected through a transparent bidding process. Kamal also shared plans to integrate citizens’ medical records with their national identity cards to improve care continuity and coordination.
To support the digital health ecosystem, pharmaceutical companies will be encouraged to establish factory outlets, ensuring more efficient medicine distribution. “We envision a future where healthcare reaches even the farthest corners of the country through digital means,” Kamal concluded.
Founded in 2018 by philanthropists, technologists, and entrepreneurs from the USA, UK, and Pakistan, EZShifa is a health-tech company committed to making healthcare accessible through innovation. Its flagship Digital Clinic initiative focuses on deploying telemedicine kiosks nationwide to provide affordable, quality healthcare services to underserved communities.
With strong backing from the Ministry of Health, the Digital Clinic program is poised to become a cornerstone in Pakistan’s strategy for modernizing primary healthcare.
