Speaking at the opening of the First Global Health Security Summit 2024, which runs until tomorrow in Islamabad, Kakar said the call for a medium-term roadmap with sufficient funding and broad support resonates globally, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.

We must invest in open, transparent and multi-sectoral processes to strengthen buy-in and commitment at all levels, he said. Kakar said a One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health.

He also called for an expanded commitment to establishing global frameworks to facilitate information sharing, joint research and collaborative strategies for effective response during emergencies.

The head of the interim government stressed the importance of a tiered public health laboratory system and active, visible and strong surveillance as an integral part of early detection, response and mitigation.

He urged working collaboratively to establish international standards for health safety in harmony with regulations to ensure the highest level of protection for populations around the world.

He noted that an intersectoral approach and a unified front to manage antimicrobial resistance requires coordinated efforts to develop and enforce global standards with a view, also, to infection prevention. He also highlighted the need for a collective response to address external and internal health challenges.

In this regard, he noted that no country can manage alone the challenges such as population growth, rapid urbanization and climate change, which, together with new diseases such as Covid-19, are causing alterations in the health of citizens and social and economic impacts, he emphasized.

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