Pakistan and Azerbaijan Commit to Strengthening Health Sector Cooperation

Pakistan and Azerbaijan have pledged to expand their collaboration in the health sector, focusing on digital health, pharmaceuticals, and medical technologies.

Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal, met with Azerbaijan’s Health Minister on Sunday during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Ministers’ Conference. The meeting underscored the commitment of both countries to forge stronger health ties.

Deepening Bilateral Health Cooperation

During the discussions, the Azerbaijani minister extended a warm welcome to Kamal and conveyed greetings from the Azerbaijani government.

Highlighting the long-standing friendship between the two nations, Kamal remarked, “Azerbaijan and Pakistan share a rich history of cooperation in the health sector.” He emphasized Pakistan’s keen interest in learning from Azerbaijan’s advancements, particularly in emerging health technologies.

Both sides agreed to:

• Enhance collaboration in digital health solutions, including telemedicine.
• Boost development of healthcare products, such as pharmaceuticals, biologicals, and medical devices.
• Promote bilateral trade in pharmaceutical products.

Launching New Initiatives

Kamal proposed initiatives aimed at facilitating the entry of Pakistani pharmaceutical companies into Azerbaijan’s market, a move expected to strengthen trade and innovation in healthcare industries.

In a significant development, Pakistan and Azerbaijan agreed to establish a joint task force to draft a comprehensive framework for future health sector cooperation.

Focus on Health Tourism

The meeting also identified strong potential for collaboration in health tourism, particularly in specialized fields like:

• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Organ transplantation

Both nations aim to leverage their medical strengths to attract health tourists and offer world-class medical services.