ISLAMABAD: (Staff Reporter) – Group CEO of GAK HealthCare International and Dr. Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, Yasir Khan Niazi, has called for comprehensive reforms in Pakistan’s healthcare and medical education sectors, emphasizing the need to improve access to quality services while developing both as competitive export industries.
Speaking to journalists from the Islamabad Press Club’s Governing Body, headed hy Abid Abbadi Secretary Funance NPC Yasir Niazi stressed the importance of standardization, affordability and sustainable financing through practical policy reforms, institutional collaboration and stronger public–private partnerships.
Appreciating the Government’s efforts to expand universal health coverage through insurance programs, he noted that households continue to bear a substantial share of healthcare costs. According to the latest available World Health Organization data published through the World Bank, out-of-pocket payments accounted for 53% of Pakistan’s total current health expenditure in 2023, highlighting a significant gap in financial protection.
He identified limited outpatient department (OPD) coverage as a major shortcoming in existing insurance arrangements. Since patients frequently require consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines and follow-up care without hospitalization, he called for extending insurance beyond inpatient treatment to cover OPD services, preventive care and early diagnosis. Broader coverage, he said, would reduce financial pressure and enable more people to seek timely treatment.
On medical education, Yasir expressed concern over rising study costs and the growing number of Pakistani students pursuing medical degrees abroad, placing additional financial pressure on families and contributing to foreign exchange outflows. He also highlighted concerns about the consistency of educational standards and international recognition of qualifications in some destinations.
He called for more affordable, quality medical education, stronger accreditation and greater institutional capacity to retain Pakistani students while attracting international enrolments.
Presenting a broader economic vision, Yasir proposed dedicated healthcare and education export programs, with medical tourism and international student recruitment as key components. He said Pakistan could attract foreign patients by strengthening clinical standards, expanding specialized services and establishing effective patient facilitation and international referral systems. Similarly, medical colleges and universities could attract overseas students through internationally competitive education, robust quality assurance and affordable fee structures.
He emphasized that foreign exchange earned through international patients and overseas students could strengthen the financial sustainability of healthcare and educational institutions. With appropriate policy mechanisms, part of this revenue could cross-subsidize treatment for local patients and provide more affordable educational opportunities for Pakistani students.
Yasir also called for stronger public–private sector collaboration in developing practical, investment-friendly policies. He urged policymakers to engage healthcare providers, educational institutions and industry stakeholders to address regulatory bottlenecks and establish consistent standards. Regulation, he stressed, should promote quality, accountability and innovation while encouraging responsible private-sector investment rather than creating unnecessary administrative barriers.
During the interaction, Yasir offered to facilitate subsidized healthcare services for journalists and their dependents through GAK HealthCare International. He also proposed regular health awareness sessions at the Islamabad Press Club on disease prevention, early warning signs and timely medical intervention, alongside periodic medical camps offering screening, diagnostic and treatment services.
Concluding his remarks, Yasir said healthcare and medical education should be developed not only as essential social sectors but also as contributors to economic growth and foreign exchange earnings. He emphasized that the ultimate measure of progress would be Pakistan’s ability to provide its people with affordable, quality healthcare and education while building institutions capable of competing internationally.
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