Building Momentum in South Asia: Pakistan Country Study

Abstract

Health is an important determinant of economic and social prosperity of a country and a key to development. Hence it is crucial to improve the health related indicators to achieve the SDGs. While taking into account the health related SDGs it is important to note that it requires the efforts beyond providing the services in medical terms and also necessitates inclusion of the social services. SDGs are taking care of all those aspects which are reflected in 13 targets under Health Goals and in all other related goals. This is quite an ambitious agenda to achieve and requires efforts from all the stakeholders including but not limited to government, academia, think tanks, research organizations, civil society organizations, communities, and private sector. SDGs are very complex and multi-sectoral by nature, therefore it’s important to have different views, perspectives and roles played by a variety of stakeholders. However, a very limited literature (almost non-existent) is available on the role of stakeholders in improving the health related indicators and targets therefore it is of prime importance to explore the relevance of different stakeholders and identify their existing and potential roles for accelerating the growth on health related SDGs. In this regard Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) with the support of IDRC held the first South Asian Regional Consultation on Health policy research institutions in Islamabad on Dec 5th 2016. It was third regional consultation around the world following the South American and African regional consultations, supported by IDRC. The consultation on health policy research institutions was attended by the seven countries in the region namely Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and SriLanka along with the experts from Iran and IDRC Ottawa and India. Taking forward the recommendations of Consultation, SDPI has conducted a study on “Policy Research Institutes and the Health SDGs: Building Momentum in South Asia” with the support of IDRC with the objective of mapping the health policy research institutions and stakeholders, foremost to understand the current situation of these seven countries and institutions within and where they stand in regards to implementing health-related SDGs. The study has been conducted with the support of partner organization in each of the respective country whereas the study in Pakistan has been conducted by SDPI. This report is based on the Pakistan Country Study.