Pakistan, Indonesia pledge stronger health partnership, focus on local vaccine production

Pakistan and Indonesia have agreed to deepen cooperation in the health sector, with a particular focus on strengthening collaboration

Pakistan and Indonesia have agreed to deepen cooperation in the health sector, with a particular focus on strengthening collaboration in vaccine production, technology transfer, and capacity building. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Indonesia’s Health Minister on the sidelines of meetings in Geneva. During the meeting, the two ministers discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest related to public health and explored opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working closely together to improve healthcare systems and promote the exchange of expertise between the two countries.

A significant part of the discussions centered on Pakistan’s efforts to establish local vaccine manufacturing capabilities. The ministers reviewed the progress made so far and exchanged views on the ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing domestic vaccine production to ensure greater self-reliance and improve the country’s preparedness for future public health challenges.

Speaking during the meeting, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal stressed that developing the capacity to manufacture vaccines locally is a national priority for Pakistan. He said the country must strengthen its pharmaceutical and healthcare infrastructure to reduce dependence on imported vaccines and ensure timely access to lifesaving medicines during health emergencies.

The minister described Indonesia as Pakistan’s leading partner in the field of vaccine production and acknowledged the country’s significant achievements in vaccine research, manufacturing, and distribution. He said Pakistan is keen to benefit from Indonesia’s technical expertise and advanced technologies to accelerate the development of its own vaccine manufacturing capabilities.

Mustafa Kamal added that closer cooperation between the two countries would help Pakistan improve its healthcare system by adopting modern technologies and best practices. He expressed confidence that collaboration with Indonesia would play an important role in strengthening Pakistan’s public health sector and supporting long-term healthcare reforms.

The Indonesian Health Minister welcomed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation and assured his counterpart that Indonesia would extend every possible support in vaccine manufacturing and institutional capacity building. He said his country is ready to share its expertise, technical knowledge, and experience to help Pakistan achieve its healthcare objectives.

According to the Indonesian minister, both nations share a common vision of providing accessible, high-quality, and effective healthcare services to their citizens. He emphasised that cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia would contribute to improving medical services, expanding access to vaccines, and promoting innovation in the healthcare sector.

The two ministers also agreed that strengthening collaboration in medical technology and pharmaceutical development would benefit both countries while enhancing regional health security. They noted that stronger partnerships would enable the exchange of scientific knowledge, improve research capabilities, and support the development of resilient healthcare systems capable of responding to future disease outbreaks.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to maintaining close coordination through continued dialogue and joint initiatives. They agreed to explore additional opportunities for collaboration in areas such as medical research, healthcare training, technology transfer, and vaccine production.

The discussions in Geneva reflected the growing partnership between Pakistan and Indonesia in the health sector and underscored their shared determination to work together in improving healthcare standards. Both countries expressed optimism that stronger bilateral cooperation would contribute to better public health outcomes, modern medical facilities, and sustainable healthcare development, while ensuring greater access to safe, effective, and locally produced vaccines for their respective populations.