Focus on healthcare workforce development, digital learning, referral systems and newborn care

By Dr Ansab Ali Lahore Pakistan

LAHORE: The National Health Support Program (NHSP), Punjab, presented progress on healthcare workforce development, digital learning, integrated referral services and newborn care during the 8th World Bank Implementation Support Mission (ISM), highlighting initiatives aimed at strengthening primary healthcare and improving the quality and continuity of essential health services across the province.

Dr. Sherin Varkey, Regional Practice Manager (Health) for the World Bank’s MENA-AP Region, who led the mission, appreciated the Punjab government’s health reform agenda and progress in strengthening primary healthcare services.

He acknowledged Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision in setting the strategic direction for health sector reforms, Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir’s leadership in advancing these priorities, and the institutional oversight of Health and Population Department Secretary Nadia Saquib.

Dr. Varkey also commended the department’s team for translating the government’s reform vision into practical interventions and the NHSP Punjab Project Management Unit (PMU) for providing technical support. He said these collective efforts were helping extend improved primary healthcare services to communities at the grassroots level.

The progress review meeting was jointly chaired by World Bank representatives Jahanzaib Sohail (TTL and SHE) and NHSP Punjab Programme Director and Additional Secretary (Administration) Muhammad Ashraf. Representatives of the World Bank, the Punjab Health and Population Department and development partners attended the meeting to review implementation progress and discuss key health sector reforms.

During the meeting, Capt. (Retd.) Dr. Usman Ali Khan briefed the mission on the programme’s support to the Health and Population Department and progress on key interventions.

A major focus was competency-based training for healthcare providers, designed to strengthen practical skills and improve the delivery of essential health services. The approach emphasises job-specific competencies and the application of knowledge and skills in clinical settings.

The mission was also briefed on the development of a Learning Management System to facilitate digital training for healthcare professionals. The proposed platform aims to expand access to structured learning resources, support professional development and strengthen workforce capacity through technology-enabled training.

Another key initiative was the development of an integrated Digital Referral Management System connecting primary healthcare facilities with secondary and tertiary care institutions. The system incorporates clinical protocols and standardised referral procedures to facilitate appropriate and timely referrals, particularly for patients requiring specialised or emergency treatment.

Participants also discussed integrating referral protocols and checklists into the Electronic Medical Record system and linking it with the Health Information Management System (HIMS). The initiative aims to standardise referral practices, improve coordination between referring and receiving facilities, and ensure continuity of care. Training healthcare staff to use these protocols was identified as an important component of implementation.

The mission further reviewed progress on Level-I neonatal care nurseries at Rural Health Centres (RHCs). These facilities are intended to strengthen newborn care at the primary healthcare level through timely assessment, initial management and stabilisation of newborns requiring medical attention, with referrals to higher-level facilities when necessary.

A comparative assessment of newborn-care arrangements before and after the establishment of the nurseries was presented to highlight efforts to bring essential neonatal services closer to communities. The initiative aims to improve access to appropriate newborn care, particularly in underserved areas, and facilitate the timely management of neonatal complications.

These interventions form part of NHSP Punjab’s broader strategy to strengthen primary healthcare readiness, improve healthcare providers’ competencies, enhance digital health systems and establish more effective referral pathways across the province.

The mission reviewed the progress presented and discussed implementation priorities requiring continued coordination and follow-up. Supported by the World Bank, NHSP Punjab aims to improve the equitable delivery and quality of essential primary healthcare services, with a focus on service readiness, governance and accountability, financing, and public financial management.

The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary (A&R) Adnan Shahzad, Director of the Punjab Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Moiz Mansoor, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Project Director Dr. Naveed Akhtar, PFFP Project Director Capt. (Retd.) Dr. Usman Ali Khan, Deputy Director HISDU Khalid Sharif, Dr. Qasim from the TB Control Programme, and NHSP Deputy Project Director Rai Faisal Raza.