Islamabad: Senior bureaucrat Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh has been appointed as the new Federal Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C), nearly three months after the position fell vacant following the transfer of former Secretary Nadeem Mahbub in April this year.
A formal notification of his appointment was issued by the Establishment Division, marking the end of a prolonged leadership vacuum in the federal health ministry at a time when the country is facing multiple health crises, ranging from the resurgence of polio to concerns over the preparedness of the upcoming HPV vaccination campaign.
According to officials in the Establishment Division, several senior officers were approached to take up the role of Secretary Health over the past few months, but many declined the position, reportedly due to the mounting pressures and challenges associated with running one of the most demanding ministries in the federal cabinet.
Until now, the ministry was being overseen by Special Secretary Waqar ul Hasan, who was holding the additional charge of Secretary NHSR&C.
Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, a senior officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), brings vast administrative experience to the role. He has previously held key federal and provincial positions, including in the Finance and Planning divisions, and is known for his technocratic approach and strategic policy thinking.
Health experts and insiders hope that Sheikh’s appointment will bring much-needed administrative stability to the Ministry of Health, which has faced repeated leadership disruptions over the years. With crucial health reforms pending implementation, and billions of rupees allocated to flagship programs such as the Hepatitis Elimination Initiative and Universal Health Coverage, his leadership will be pivotal in steering the ministry through operational and policy challenges.
Stakeholders have also expressed concern over the timely execution of ongoing national programs, including the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), maternal and child health initiatives, and regulation of the pharmaceutical sector—areas that have suffered due to lack of a permanent federal secretary since April.
“Having a full-time secretary is essential for continuity, governance, and effective coordination with provinces and international partners,” said a senior official in the health ministry, welcoming Sheikh’s appointment.
The Ministry of National Health Services has been under the spotlight for its struggle to maintain consistent leadership. With Sheikh now at the helm, expectations are high that the ministry will be able to overcome institutional inertia and accelerate long-awaited reforms in Pakistan’s health governance.
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