What We Do

Overview

Pakistan’s National Vision for Surgical Care (NVSC) 2020–25 is the country’s first comprehensive national surgical plan, developed under the leadership of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (MoNHSR&C). As a signatory to World Health Assembly Resolution 68.15, Pakistan became the first country in Asia to develop a national surgical plan using the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) framework.

The NVSC was completed in 2020 following extensive consultations with government institutions, professional bodies, private sector partners, and international experts, and was formally launched in July 2021.

The development process was led by MoNHSR&C in collaboration with Indus Hospital & Health Network and technical partners including Harvard Medical School and the World Health Organization.

The NVSC provides a strategic framework for strengthening surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia services and supports Pakistan’s broader National Health Vision and Universal Health Coverage efforts.

20k

227M

Population covered under the national surgical vision

The need

The need

Globally, five billion people lack access to safe surgical care. Pakistan faces significant surgical system gaps:

  • A population of approximately 227 million with growing surgical demand
  • An estimated 10 million additional surgeries needed annually
  • Only 6 surgeons, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists per 100,000 population
  • High maternal mortality of 186 per 100,000 population
  • Uneven distribution of surgical workforce and infrastructure

The NVSC was developed to provide a strategic direction for strengthening surgical systems and improving access to essential surgical care across Pakistan.

Our approach: Policy and advocacy

NVSC was developed through a structured national planning process led by MoNHSR&C.

Key steps included:

  • National Stakeholders’ Conference (2018)
  • Provincial consultations (2019)
  • Technical drafting and validation
  • Government approval and launch (2021)

The strategy follows the NSOAP framework, focusing on governance, financing, service delivery, infrastructure, workforce, and information systems, supporting integration of surgical services within Pakistan’s Essential Package of Health Services and Universal Health Coverage initiatives.

Our partners

PDI has a nationwide footprint, focusing on districts identified by the national STH survey— 47 at-risk districts requiring annual deworming.

Evidence-based solutions. Lasting impact.

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