Experts at a seminar called for concerted efforts from public and private sector to develop resilience in the healthcare sector against climate change.  The seminar titled “Climate Change and Health System Resilience” was organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute. Dr Shafqat Munir, Deputy Executive Director, SDPI, stressed the need for presenting bankable climate adaptation projects and secure climate finance through rigorous negotiations and workable targets.  He stressed that financing is central need to develop climate resilience in health and other sectors which can be met through national and international financial institutions. However, the demand for financing must be complimented with substantial efforts in greenhouse gas emission reduction, he said. 

He emphasized on including fossil fuel phase-out as an essential component in developing resilience of healthcare system considering the significant burden imposed due to fossil fuel pollution.  He highlighted that fossil fuel burning causes respiratory and cardiac diseases in adults, developmental challenges and mortality among young children. Dr Zafar Fatmi, Professor and Head, Section of Environmental Health & Climate Change Aga Khan University, highlighted that during response and resilience policy development process, the government does not effectively take on-board essential stakeholders including private healthcare sector. 

This leaves a huge gap in the response to climate change leading to duplication of efforts in some areas while some areas are ignored. He apprised the audience that AKU has committed to achieve net zero by 2030 for which they are targeting emission reduction from supply chain, reduce waste and adopt green alternatives to medicines with high greenhouse gas footprint like asthma inhalers. He encouraged healthcare institutions to adopt similar policies to reduce their carbon footprint.

Quaid Saeed, Chief Executive Officer, Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority, reiterated that the private sector accommodates the major influx of patients due to climate induced diseases and emergencies and they must be part of the policy planning process. He pointed out that Pakistan is not only highly vulnerable to climate change but at high risk of zoonotic and vector borne diseases. He urged the government to strengthen information system of healthcare sector, by developing a comprehensive digital data platform to consolidate data from public and private sectors.

Dr Muhammad Mukhtar, Director, Directorate of Malaria Control (DoMC), Ministry of Health Services, and Regulations, informed that 5 Year Malaria Emergency Plan has been formulated in consultation with the provincial authorities, and other stakeholders under which mosquito nets are distributed in malaria vulnerable communities. He said that the plan has been developed considering the rapid rise in malaria incidence. Reported malaria cases have increased from approximately 370000 to about 3 million cases post 2022 floods. 

The plan guides federal and provincial stakeholders’ humanitarian response in case of any climate disasters. Dr Razia Safdar, Advisor, SDPI highlighted that IPCC has reported a significant rise in climate induced communicable and non-communicable diseases including child mortality, anxiety, and mental health issues. 

This is simultaneously increasing the pressure on the healthcare infrastructure which calls for timely, proactive, effective adaptation to develop resilience, she added. She further said that climate change leads to an increased demand for health care services while simultaneously incidence of extreme climate events leads to disruption in services and exacerbation of the existing inequalities.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)