First public health sciences varsity on cards

HSA carries out research and service programmes that prepare students for various fields in the health sector.

ISLAMABAD: To add diversity to health programmes for students, the government is planning to establish Health Services Academy (HSA) as Pakistan’s first national university of Public Health Sciences.

This was announced by the Federal Minister for Health Makhdoom Shahabuddin while addressing the first ever convocation of HSA held on Friday at Convention Centre. Federal Minster for Education, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali, Vice Chancellor Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Dr  Muhammad Masoom Yasinzai, Executive Director HSA Dr Asad Hafeez, officials from Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, scholars from various educational institutes, donors and civil society representatives were also present on the occasion.

A total of 248 students of HSA affiliated with Quaid-e-Azam University who successfully completed their Masters degree in Public Health and Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Entomology and Disease Vector Control programme since 1996 were awarded degrees and medals.

HSA is an institution under the Ministry of Health which also carries out research and service programmes that prepare students for various fields in the health sector.

“One of the obstacles in achieving the health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is the lack of well trained health care professionals in the country. We are hopeful that after establishing the university this shortage will be overcome to some extent,” said Shahabuddin.

On the occasion, he asked Dr Asad Hafeez, Executive Director HSA to prepare a complete feasibility plan for the university and Higher Education Commission (HEC) to initiate and expedite the accreditation and quality assurance process in this context.

“I am confident that HSA will emerge as the first state-of-the-art university with well established local, regional and international linkages,” he said.

He added that the university will offer most modern curriculum in areas of public health sciences for keeping abreast the latest trends in higher education, progression towards excellent academic standards, increased graduation rates with an overall impact on improving the health status of the citizens of the country.

He urged the students to bring tangible improvements in the public health and welfare and thus contribute to overall development by building a healthy and productive nation.

Speaking on the occasion Federal Minster for Education, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali said Pakistan faces many challenges in improving the health status of its people.

“Although continuous efforts are made by the government to improve its health profile, still a lot needs to be done especially for mothers, children and other vulnerable groups such as the poor and marginalised,” he said.

He expressed the need to improve health care coverage across areas and regions to deliver health benefits equitably among population.

“However, all this is not possible without the optimal utilisation of existing resources and in the absence of competent healthcare professionals,” he maintained.

He called for collective efforts from Ministry of Health, HEC and other institutions and development partners to actively extend their support to HAS.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2010.