The Federal Cabinet of Pakistan has approved the country’s first-ever National Vaccine Policy, a significant move aimed at boosting local vaccine production and strengthening the healthcare system.
The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.
Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for National Health, called the policy a landmark initiative, noting that Pakistan previously lacked a unified national framework for vaccines. He said the policy was developed after extensive consultations with stakeholders to ensure a practical and sustainable strategy.
Kamal also acknowledged the contributions of Haroon Akhtar Khan, Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan in shaping the policy.
He emphasized that building domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity is essential for achieving self-reliance in the health sector.
As part of the initiative, the cabinet approved the formation of a special committee under DRAP to regulate vaccine pricing and maintain quality standards.
The policy is designed to reduce reliance on imported vaccines, save foreign exchange, and enable Pakistan to become self-sufficient in vaccine production.
Over the past five decades, Pakistan has worked closely with the World Health Organization to deliver life-saving vaccines to millions. According to WHO data, vaccines have saved approximately 154 million lives globally in the last 50 years and can protect against more than 30 diseases through immunization.
