KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has lauded the Sindh government for its remarkable achievement of reducing infant mortality in the province to 2.9 percent, compared to the national average of 5.4 percent.
Bilawal expressed pride in the accomplishments of the provincial government and the ChildLife Foundation (CLF), which have achieved a 1.2 percent paediatric mortality rate in CLF-operated emergency rooms — better than most public and private hospitals in Pakistan, and even in 19 comparable countries, where the average is 6.3 percent.
“Our child-life facility is now the only public sector paediatric healthcare provider in Pakistan to achieve a level-5 SafeCare quality certification,” Bilawal said during a ceremony at Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi that was organised by Dow University of Health Sciences.
The event celebrated Sindh’s healthcare advancements and the release of a report by Palisi, a US-based health institute under the University of California, San Francisco, confirming the province’s progress in reducing child mortality.
Bilawal attributed this success to the provincial government’s public-private partnership model, which he described as a game changer envisioned by Benazir Bhutto in the PPP’s 1993 election manifesto.
He noted that Sindh leads not only other provinces but also the federal government in implementing such a model, with The Economist ranking the province’s public-private partnership programme among the top six globally.
“Our dream is to establish ChildLife emergency facilities in every district of Sindh to provide free, world-class healthcare to the public,” he said, adding that the programme is now being adopted by other provinces, including Punjab, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
He praised the Sindh government’s resilience in overcoming financial constraints caused by inequitable federal allocations, and ensured the continuation of transformative initiatives. “The public-private partnership model has allowed us to provide world-class healthcare services, including child health care, despite resource challenges.”
He also commended the healthcare workers, doctors and staff for their dedication, telling them that their hard work and success are being recognised globally. “Congratulations to all of you!”Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on the occasion highlighted his provincial government’s collaborative efforts with the CLF, calling the partnership a model of successful public-private cooperation.
Shah also celebrated the inauguration of Pakistan’s first public sector level-5 paediatric SafeCare-certified facility at the Sindh Government Hospital, and shared plans for the future.Since 2010 over a million children have been treated annually in emergency rooms across the province. Modern emergency facilities have been established at nine teaching hospitals, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad and Larkana.
Moreover, Sindh’s 24/7 telemedicine network covers all 105 Tehsils, ensuring access to expert paediatric consultations even in remote areas. The CM stressed that funds allocated for these initiatives are audited by AF Ferguson to ensure transparency and accountability.
“Our efforts have garnered international acclaim,” he said, adding that Harvard Business School has recognised the Sindh-CLF partnership as a model for nation-building. He revealed that the provincial government aims to reduce child mortality by another 50 percent over the next five years.
The plans include establishing 30 urgent care centres with 10- to 25-bed emergency rooms across all the districts of the province, and launching programmes such as Helping Babies Breathe and post-partum family planning services at over 100 government hospitals.
He praised healthcare workers for surpassing the standards of top private hospitals in the country despite facing challenging circumstances. He invited all stakeholders to join in ensuring every child in the province has access to quality healthcare.
Bilawal and Shah both highlighted the broader impact of Sindh’s healthcare initiatives. Its public-private partnership programme has become a model for other provinces, with Punjab setting up similar emergency rooms in Lahore and Multan.
Bilawal noted that these achievements stem from a vision of accessible healthcare for all, made possible through consistent investment and innovative partnerships. “Together we’re building a healthcare system that not only saves lives but sets an example for the rest of Pakistan.”
The Palisi report praised Sindh’s public healthcare model as a benchmark for child mortality reduction. Sindh’s achievements were described as transformational, further solidifying the province’s position as a leader in healthcare innovation and delivery.
During the event, Bilawal distributed certificates among healthcare workers for their outstanding performance, and visited the telemedicine satellite centre control room to observe live consultations.
Published in News Daily on 14-January-2025.