The Countdown in Pakistan, led by the Health Services Academy in Islamabad, and partner organizations has supported the Ministry of Health Services Regulation and Coordination in the development of a framework of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of progress toward implementation of the universal health coverage (UHC) basic package and equity profiles for each province.

The final document was disseminated at the 11th public health conference held at Health Services Academy on September 24, 2021 in collaboration with Disease Control Priorities (DCP3) secretariat and University of Manitoba. Dr. Sabeen Afzal, Deputy Director Programmes at the Ministry, chaired the session and said:

“Health is the only sector that has completed the process of localizing sustainable development goals nationally. Pakistan is the first country to adopt DCP-3 package of interventions in its UHC Benefit Package/District Essential Package of Health Services. The guidance is very timely to complement provincial efforts to develop their M&E frameworks. A set of common indicators will be collated and reviewed at national level to monitor the progress and the use of digital technologies will be harnessed for timely flow of information and feedback.”

At the same conference, Health Services Academy also released new the provincial equity profiles, which were based on the Countdown country equity profiles. present analysis of the 2018 Pakistan Demographic Health Survey data to highlight the equity gaps. These profiles will support the national and sub-national efforts to achieve equitable coverage of critical reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health services.