Fahd discusses public communication and digital engagement for Healthcare workers

F.P. Report

Karachi: Mr. Fahd Haroon, Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Public Communication and Digital Platforms, attended an Iftar dinner organized by Cordoba Care Institute of Health Management in Karachi.

The dinner was attended by leading medical professionals, educationists, members of civil society organizations, and top corporate and media representatives.

During the event, Mr. Haroon spoke about the importance of public communication and tech skills development via digital platforms in healthcare, especially with reference to the need for human resource training for quality healthcare professionals. He emphasised that these professionals are not only required in Pakistan to uplift the local healthcare system but also have great potential export demand in the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

He highlighted that the Government of Pakistan is working on making healthcare services available through digital platforms and means and that in this regard the public communication ecosystem will play an important role in creating awareness and behavior-change for the usage of digital healthcare services for the greater good and well-being of society.

Mr. Fahd Haroon also emphasized the significance of international digital platforms in offering substantial learning and knowledge resources for healthcare professionals, providing an ideal mode for disseminating effective healthcare training. He focused on the importance of healthcare professionals keeping themselves updated with the latest trends and developments in healthcare and medicine through not only physical but also tech platforms. Moreover, he highlighted the crucial role of public communication in identifying and addressing the health challenges faced by citizens in their respective communities.

Mr. Malik Ahmad Jalal, CEO & Founder of the Cordoba Care Institute of Health Management (CCI), said, “We are honored to have Mr. Haroon join us to celebrate the achievements of Cordoba Care Institute in the field of healthcare training. CCI strives to provide quality healthcare services through training and capacity building of the healthcare professionals, particularly from underserved communities”.

He said, “Pakistan faces an acute shortage of 600,000 medical technicians or 1/9th of our need as per the WHO standards. Cordoba Care Institute’s mission is to improve public health through practical and soft skills focused training of nursing and allied healthcare professionals.” He said, “CCI actively works on job placement, and career counseling and has an over 90% job placement rate of its graduates, who secure salaries between PKR 23,000 to PKR 33,000 per month for their technical competence and soft skills training.” He further added, “We believe that digital healthcare and skills development initiatives are critical for improving the quality of healthcare services in Pakistan and beyond as they serve to showcase our homegrown talent and skills.”

It is essential to note that Pakistan is prioritizing the strengthening of the health sector, especially after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is making progress on SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing). Pakistan’s healthcare system is facing a dearth of healthcare professionals, particularly in the fields of nursing and allied healthcare. Although the Lady Health Workers (LHW) program has been revitalized through adequate training, support, and a revised service structure, which has improved effective coverage of skilled birth attendants, pre, and post-pregnancy care, and neonatal care, the need for trained professionals is still needed in the peri-urban and rural areas of Pakistan.

Pakistan has been making efforts to achieve health-relevant SDGs. However, progress has been slow due to a lack of resources, infrastructure, and skilled human resources. The government has made skills development initiatives a priority to ensure that the demand for public health service delivery is met with quality and quantity both.

There is a need for the government and private sector to collaborate to improve healthcare services and ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to all. The use of digital platforms and public communication can play a vital role in creating awareness of the need for quality allied health resources and improving the behavior-change of patients and care providers. The Cordoba Care Institute provides a quality demand-driven curriculum taught with innovative methodologies to achieve these goals.