Islamabad: Global and local experts have called for sweeping reforms in Pakistan’s emergency and trauma care system, saying the country urgently needs a national triage network, modern resuscitation protocols, and trained leadership to prevent avoidable deaths in hospitals and disaster situations.
The call came at the closing of the National Emergency Medicine Conference 2025 at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, where dozens specialists from Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, and the UAE gathered under the Collaborative Hubs of Academic Learning Organisations (cHALO) initiative to chart a new roadmap for emergency medicine in the country.
“Emergency medicine is the real game changer for Pakistan’s healthcare system,” said Dr. Abdus Salam Khan, Consultant Emergency Physician at Shifa International Hospital and former President of the Pakistan Society of Emergency Medicine (PSEM). “We now stand at the threshold of a new era where training, technology, and teamwork will ensure no patient is denied timely treatment.”
The two-day conference, organized by PSEM and Shifa International Hospital, focused on resuscitation science, policy and system design, leadership, and educational innovation. Experts presented strategies for modernizing Pakistan’s emergency departments, integrating data systems, and climate-proofing health facilities.
Dr. Junaid Razzak, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Trauma and Emergencies, presented the latest global resuscitation strategies, while Dr. Naeem Toosy from Abu Dhabi discussed how performance indicators can improve patient outcomes. California-based emergency physician Dr. Faraz Bhatti emphasized the importance of developing effective emergency department teams to strengthen the chain of survival.
Policy experts including Dr. Faisal Subhani and Dr. Azer Shaikh highlighted lessons from low-resource emergency rooms and called for a standardized national triage system to prioritize critical patients over influence or social status. “A functional triage system will save thousands of lives every year,” Dr. Shaikh said.
A leadership and workforce development session, co-chaired by Dr. Abdus Salam Khan and Dr. Taj Hassan (UK), underscored the need for continuous professional training and institutional backing. Former Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) presidents Mr. Fergal Hickey and Mr. John Heyworth shared strategies on influencing health policy and improving workforce resilience.
Dr. Naeem Uz Zafar, Chief Statistician of Pakistan, and Dr. Shabana, Director General Population, joined a panel discussion on using data for emergency planning and population-based interventions. Other sessions explored digital education portfolios, simulation-based training, and emergency care in rural settings.
Earlier sessions on paediatric emergencies and clinical core skills featured Dr. Tamkeen Pervez, Dr. Mahvish Ahmad (UK), and Dr. Anwer Qureshi, who stressed the need for structured training programs and legal frameworks for emergency physicians.
PSEM President and Shifa’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Khawaja Junaid Mustafa, said emergency care must be recognized as a national priority. “Pakistan can only achieve international standards if emergency departments are made consultant-led, properly funded, and equipped with technology,” he said.
He announced that Shifa International Hospital is developing Pakistan’s first 5G-enabled ambulance system to connect paramedics directly with ER doctors in real time — a move experts hailed as a breakthrough for pre-hospital care.
While the conference largely focused on reform and innovation, experts also warned about the human resource crisis in the sector. Pakistan currently has fewer than 15 certified emergency medicine consultants working full-time in the country, while the majority of those trained have moved abroad — a situation described by PSEM earlier as “a national emergency in itself.”
Concluding the event, Dr. Abdus Salam Khan said the participants had agreed on an Emergency Medicine Leadership Roadmap 2026 to standardize triage, upgrade training, and integrate digital systems with national disaster response frameworks.
“Emergency medicine is not just about saving lives in hospitals — it’s about readiness, data, and system design,” said Dr. Taj Hassan. “If Pakistan invests now, it can transform emergency care into a global model within the next decade.”
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