The Balochistan government has planned satellite connectivity, telemedicine services and digitalization of 1,500 health centres across the province in an effort to improve healthcare delivery, particularly in remote and underserved areas. According to a written reply submitted to the National Assembly, the digital health initiatives have been conceived and are being implemented by the provincial government, while cooperation with the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission has also been envisaged for satellite connectivity.
The provincial government has undertaken wide ranging reforms covering legislation, governance, human resources and primary and tertiary healthcare over the past 18 months. Eight health laws have been enacted, while more than 20 administrative and financial powers have been decentralized during this period, forming the broader institutional backdrop for the province’s push toward satellite enabled telemedicine.
Around 2,739 healthcare workers have been recruited and 4,254 health personnel promoted, including more than 600 doctors whose promotions were facilitated through a waiver of annual confidential reports. The government has also revived 164 previously non-functional Basic Health Units, addressing a longstanding gap in primary healthcare access across the province’s more remote districts, where the planned satellite connectivity is expected to have the greatest impact.
The Ministry of National Health Services said health is a provincial subject but expressed readiness to provide technical guidance, coordination and facilitation when requested. Federal support may include policy coordination, knowledge sharing and technical assistance for telemedicine, digital health and disease surveillance systems, positioning the initiative as a potential model for extending satellite based connectivity to healthcare infrastructure in other underserved regions of Pakistan.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
