ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is in talks with Saudi Arabia to introduce a nationwide digital health records system that would allow doctors to access patients' medical histories across hospitals and provinces, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told Arab News on Tuesday.
The proposed system, modeled on the Kingdom's Unified Health Record (UHR) platform, would help Pakistan move away from fragmented paper-based records that often result in duplicate tests, treatment delays and gaps in patient care.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize healthcare management in Pakistan, where medical records are often maintained separately by individual hospitals and healthcare providers.
“Saudi Arabia ranks among the world leaders in digital management of unified patient data,” Kamal said. “I spoke with relevant Saudi officials just a few days ago, and we want to learn from their experience and introduce a similar system in Pakistan.”
Saudi Arabia has developed a Unified Health Record system under its Vision 2030 reform program that allows healthcare providers to access patient information through a centralized digital platform.
The system maintains updated patient records, including disease history, medications dispensed, medical insurance information, laboratory test results, vaccinations and referrals.
Pakistan's healthcare system has long relied on localized and largely paper-based recordkeeping, limiting the sharing of patient information between hospitals and provinces.
Kamal said his ministry is working with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to eventually link citizens' medical records with their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs).
“In the future, a patient's CNIC could serve as their Medical Record number, allowing healthcare providers to access centralized medical histories across the country,” he said.
Pakistan is also exploring joint vaccine production with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and China as it seeks to reduce dependence on imported vaccines and prepare for a gradual decline in international funding support.
The country requires around 130 million vaccine doses annually to immunize children against various diseases, according to the official data. However, support from international partners is expected to taper off by 2030, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of vaccine supplies.
Pakistan currently relies heavily on support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a public-private global health partnership that helps finance and supply vaccines in lower-income countries.
Health officials say local vaccine manufacturing would strengthen Pakistan's health security, reduce import dependence, conserve foreign exchange reserves and support the country's broader goal of developing export-oriented industries.
Kamal said Pakistan spends up to $1.2 billion annually on vaccine imports, highlighting the need to establish domestic production capacity.
“Indonesia has agreed to transfer vaccine production technology, and we expect a breakthrough very soon,” he said.
