Islamabad: Pakistan has the potential to dramatically reduce its neonatal mortality rate (NMR) if it learns from the success of its eastern neighbor, where one state, Kerala, has managed to achieve a neonatal mortality rate lower than that of the United States, said Prof. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Distinguished University Professor and Founding Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) at Aga Khan University.
Speaking at the National Seminar on Accelerating Newborn Survival and Care in Pakistan in Islamabad, Prof. Bhutta deplored the glaring disparity between urban and rural healthcare services. He revealed that only 9 percent of health facilities across Pakistan are equipped with newborn resuscitation services.
“We have failed to invest in a trained health workforce. Rural districts lack trained nurses and nursing technicians, while major hospitals and lavish buildings are being established in urban centers. Progress in rural areas is painfully slow,” he remarked.
Prof. Bhutta emphasized that countries once struggling with high neonatal mortality succeeded only after strengthening their rural health centers with trained staff, medicines, and essential supplies. “This is exactly what Pakistan needs to do to save newborn lives,” he added.
The two-day seminar, hosted by IGHD in collaboration with Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) and Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan (SOGP), brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and development partners to align on practical steps for reducing preventable newborn deaths. The discussions focused on district-level solutions, strengthening level II care, and scaling up evidence-based practices such as newborn resuscitation, kangaroo mother care, breastfeeding, and respiratory support.
Prof. Bhutta underscored that more than half of newborn deaths can be prevented with timely, simple interventions. “Effective implementation of newborn resuscitation, nutrition through breastfeeding, kangaroo mother care, and judicious maternal interventions such as antenatal corticosteroids and magnesium sulphate can significantly improve both maternal and newborn outcomes,” he said.
Director General Health, Prof. Ayesha Isani Majeed, while addressing the inaugural session, said evidence shows that simple, integrated newborn care interventions can prevent the majority of deaths and long-term complications.
She announced the immediate formulation of a National Technical Working Group (TWG) to prioritize newborn care and bring visibility across government platforms, inviting experts from all walks of life to join. She also announced that routine immunization will be included as a priority within the National Immunization Management System, urging stakeholders to voice and support this agenda nationwide.
Prof. Shabina Ariff of Aga Khan University stressed that Pakistan already has the knowledge and tools to reduce newborn deaths but lacks consistent implementation and accountability. “Every mother and newborn deserves timely, high-quality care. This seminar is about translating evidence into action,” she maintained.
Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) President Prof. Masood Sadiq highlighted the role of pediatricians in district-level policy reforms, saying newborn survival must be placed at the center of the country’s public health agenda. “Strengthening neonatal care is not just about reducing mortality; it is about giving every child a fair start in life,” he stressed.
Technical sessions showcased provincial case studies and innovative approaches, while international experts from SickKids Toronto shared findings from integrated newborn care kit (iNCK) trials conducted in Rahim Yar Khan and Gilgit-Baltistan. These trials demonstrated promising improvements in newborn health outcomes and cost-effectiveness for rural Pakistan.
With more than 250,000 newborn deaths annually, Pakistan remains among the countries with the highest neonatal mortality rates in the world. Health experts at the seminar agreed that bridging the urban-rural divide and ensuring equitable, quality care at district hospitals are the most urgent steps needed to reverse this trend.
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