Pakistan and Indonesia Boost Health Collaboration

Pakistan reiterated its dedication to eradicating malaria and promoting cross-border healthcare collaboration during the 9th Asia Pacific Leaders' Summit currently taking place in Bali, Indonesia.

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s State Minister for Health, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, headed a delegation that met with Indonesia's Health Minister, Budi GunadiSadikin, along with various global health authorities. The discussions focused on progressing toward malaria eradication and enhancing collaborative efforts between developing nations.

The summit underscored Pakistan’s significant challenge with malaria, exacerbated by climatic events such as the massive flooding in 2022. The country aims to eradicate malaria entirely by 2035. Dr. Bharath outlined advancements, noting a 40 percent decline in cases between 2015 and 2020, and advocated for introducing tafenoquine to tackle vivax malaria more effectively. Both Pakistan and Indonesia are enhancing their healthcare cooperation across various critical domains. One primary emphasis lies on transferring technology and knowledge through collaborative research projects, educational programs, and sharing professional skills aimed at boosting capabilities within each nation.

A significant focus area is vaccine manufacturing, where initiatives are being taken to set up domestic vaccine production facilities in Pakistan to boost regional autonomy. Additionally, both nations are collaborating on climate-adaptive health strategies, seeking to create unified approaches for tackling health threats exacerbated by climate change.

Moreover, they are participating in regional summits and advocacy initiatives via platforms such as the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance to advance common healthcare goals and collaborative actions. Pakistan has volunteered to host the subsequent summit in 2026 and intends to organize a national summit to strengthen these endeavors. Additionally, Indonesia expressed its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s plans for vaccine manufacturing.

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