Health Services Academy, Chak Shahzad, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan.
National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Ann Glob Health. 2024 Nov 21;90(1):69. doi: 10.5334/aogh.4536. eCollection 2024.
Pakistan's health system is expected to take a proactive position in the global health security arena amidst its own indigenous structural and systemic challenges. Henceforth, understanding the intricacies of this system is vital for creating effective strategies to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies, ensuring regional stability and overall global health security. This study has ventured to understand the perspectives, hurdles, threats, and both international and national implications of Pakistan's current health system capacity and the requisites for meeting global health security commitments. This descriptive qualitative study, based on phenomenology theory, involved key informant interviews with 16 senior policy‑level experts and public health professionals from the public and private sectors, international non‑governmental organizations (NGOs), development partners, and United Nations (UN) bodies. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes related to Pakistan's health system and its role in global health security. The study uncovered significant insights into the strengths and weaknesses of Pakistan's health system, the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic, and challenges such as funding constraints and fragmented healthcare delivery. It also highlighted threats like antimicrobial resistance and emphasized the importance of international collaboration. Areas needing special attention include multi‑drug resistance, food safety in emergencies, surge capacity of the frontline workforce, patient safety to reduce healthcare‑associated infections, and strengthening points of entry. The COVID‑19 pandemic has highlighted both the vulnerabilities and the potential within Pakistan's health system. To enhance its contribution to global health security, Pakistan needs a national policy stance, targeted health system reforms, improved resource allocation, workforce development, and strengthened partnerships with development agencies.
巴基斯坦的卫生系统在面临自身本土结构和系统挑战的情况下，预计将在全球卫生安全领域采取积极主动的立场。因此，了解该系统的复杂性对于制定有效策略以预防、检测和应对卫生紧急情况至关重要，这有助于确保区域稳定和全球整体卫生安全。本研究旨在了解巴基斯坦当前卫生系统能力的观点、障碍、威胁以及国际和国家影响，以及满足全球卫生安全承诺的必要条件。这项基于现象学理论的描述性定性研究涉及对来自公共和私营部门、国际非政府组织 (NGO)、发展伙伴和联合国 (UN) 机构的 16 名高级政策专家和公共卫生专业人员的关键信息采访。采用主题分析来确定与巴基斯坦卫生系统及其在全球卫生安全中的作用相关的关键主题。研究揭示了巴基斯坦卫生系统的优势和劣势、2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 大流行的影响以及资金限制和分散的医疗服务提供等挑战的重要见解。它还强调了诸如抗微生物药物耐药性等威胁的重要性，并强调了国际合作的重要性。需要特别关注的领域包括多药耐药性、紧急情况下的食品安全、一线工作人员的应急能力、减少医源性感染的患者安全以及加强入境点。COVID-19 大流行凸显了巴基斯坦卫生系统的脆弱性和潜力。为了增强其对全球卫生安全的贡献，巴基斯坦需要采取国家政策立场、有针对性的卫生系统改革、改善资源分配、劳动力发展以及加强与发展机构的伙伴关系。
