Pakistan ranks very low on the Global Human Development Index; this encompasses country progress on health, education, economic empowerment, and poverty reduction, addressing gender gaps in social and human development and other development indicators. However, according to the Human Development Report 2016, there has been improvement from Low to Medium Human Development. Healthy. WHO supports the Government of Pakistan in improving the health and social development of local communities, which contributes to the overall Human Development of the country. The key technical support is being provided in the form of policy and programme level interventions addressing SDH, coupled with community based interventions to strengthen capacities of local communities for more accountable and need-based health and social sector response, as a move towards Universal Health Coverage.
WHO support in Pakistan
Advocacy and dialogues to seek synergies among health and non-health sectors and provinces through the development of National and Provincial Strategic frameworks for addressing health determinants through inter-sectoral action at policy, programme and service delivery level with the assistance of WHO.
Evidence based assessment on Social Determinants of Health and Intersectoral action which focuses on review of health care access and service delivery mechanisms, impacts of social policies on health determinants (pre-post devolution), health equity and health system functioning in Pakistan. The findings of this assessment are being used for policy advocacy on integration of SDH as well as for HiAP interventions.
Health in All Policies (HiAP) Interventions in alignment with SDGs: include development of National Strategic framework for action on HiAP through a consultative process to contribute towards National Health Vision and SDG implementation in Pakistan. It would further translate in to provincial action plans for HiAP implementation as well as capacity strengthening of policy makers and service providers from health and other social sectors for the application of the HiAP approach at policy and programme level.
Healthy City Programme: one of the prominent initiatives towards empowering healthy communities has been the launching of the Healthy City Programme in Islamabad, which is currently registered on the Global Healthy City Network. The programme addresses the Social Determinants of Health and enhances communities’ resilience and human potential. The Healthy City Programme helps improve local health indicators through opportunities to improve living standards and community capacity-strengthening. It is in line with SDGs framework, focusing on inter-sectoral collaboration to address social determinants of health. Building upon earlier efforts, WHO Pakistan is collaborating with City Government Islamabad/CDA Health Directorate to start a pilot Healthy City Programme in Islamabad. Phase I requires stakeholder orientation on HCP and finalization of Islamabad’s core indicators for equity assessment, using the URBAN Health Equity and Response Tool methodology. Phase II envisages implementation of the programme, addressing gaps identified earlier. Advocacy and dialogue has led to National and Provincial Strategic frameworks for addressing health determinants through inter-sectoral action at policy, programme, and service-delivery level, with the assistance of WHO. The responsibility for these areas lies with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Provincial Health Departments, and CDA-City Government Islamabad.
Partnerships
1. One UNPSDF to support implementation of SDGs in Pakistan
2. Partnership with Directorate of Health CDA – Islamabad for Healthy City Programme