Mustafa Kamal launches health complaint system in Islamabad
Residents can now register health complaints by phone, and each one will receive a digital tracking number.
Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal inaugurated a health complaint management system in Islamabad on Wednesday, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
At the inaugural ceremony, Kamal said an efficient complaint redressal mechanism is vital for better public services and for building citizens' trust in the health system.
The minister said the government's top priority is transparency and accountability in healthcare, along with giving the public a voice.
In the initial phase, Islamabad residents can register health-related complaints by calling the 1166 helpline, Kamal said.
Under the new automated system, every complaint will receive a digital tracking number and be sent immediately to the relevant officer for real-time monitoring and follow-up, the minister said.
Kamal said the project will later be expanded nationwide at a cost of Rs400 million.
He said data generated by the system will also support health surveys, preemptive measures and future policy formulation.
Health services in Pakistan are largely delivered by the provinces, while the federal Ministry of National Health Services handles national health policy and coordination.
Systems that let patients formally raise concerns and track how they are handled are intended to give people a clear route for redress when they face problems with care.
