Islamabad, 27-Jan-2026 (PPI): The federal government is deploying 5,000 doctors for online consultations across the country as part of a major digital health initiative aimed at alleviating the escalating patient burden on hospitals, Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal announced on Monday. The statement came during the inauguration of the capital's fifth Telemedicine Centre at Basic Health Unit (BHU) Bhukkar, underscoring a strategic shift towards technology-driven primary healthcare.
Addressing the ceremony, the health minister identified the optimal use of modern technologies, particularly virtual consultations, as the most effective solution to manage the demands of a rapidly growing population on the nation's medical facilities.
Mr Kamal highlighted that this technological approach enables the delivery of quality medical services to remote and rural areas, ensuring citizens there receive a standard of care comparable to that in major urban centres. He noted that in the current digital era, telemedicine provides an efficient system for timely diagnosis and treatment without requiring a physician's physical presence for basic care.
As part of the initiative, the minister announced that the BHU Bhukkar facility will be upgraded in phases, transitioning from a primary to a secondary healthcare centre to better serve the local community.
Detailing the national plan, he informed that the 5,000 allocated doctors will provide online medical consultations from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. He also pointed out that the programme offers a significant opportunity for female doctors who are currently not practising to reintegrate into the national healthcare system from their homes.
Trained medical staff will be present at each telemedicine facility to assist patients. The minister confirmed that the scope of these services will progressively expand across more basic health units, which will serve not only as treatment facilities but also as hubs for health awareness and disease prevention.
He emphasised that the Ministry of Health's strategy focuses on preventing diseases rather than solely treating them and called on citizens to actively support government public health campaigns.
The health minister also drew attention to the government's doorstep vaccination services against thirteen preventable diseases, urging parents to ensure their children's complete immunisation to foster a healthy society.
Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram, Co-founder and CEO of Sehat Kahani, the technology partner for the project, stated that the initiative's success hinges on patient adoption of online consultations. "We plan to continue this initiative by opening additional digital centres so that more families can benefit from reliable and timely healthcare services," she said.
Dr. Khurram added that the BHU Bhukkar centre operates on Sehat Kahani’s advanced digital infrastructure, which includes secure video consultations, electronic medical records, and digital prescriptions. She underscored the vital role of nursing staff in managing patient flow and ensuring effective service delivery at the facility.