ISLAMABAD: The inaugural Pakistan Healthcare Excellence Awards (PHEA) 2026 were held at Tulip Marquee, Islamabad, recognising outstanding individuals, organisations and innovations contributing to Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
The ceremony was organised by Health Matters Media in strategic partnership with the Pak Pharma & Healthcare Expo, while Prime Event Management served as the event management partner. Sind Medical Stores (SMS) supported the inaugural awards as the sole Bronze Sponsor.
The proceedings commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Master Moin Akhtar Rind, followed by the National Anthem. M. Rizwan Buttar moderated the ceremony.
Federal Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Muhammad Aslam Ghauri was represented by Dr. Nadia Noreen, Director (Emergency, Flood, PHC, PF & TCC), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. Senator Sarmad Ali, Member of the Senate of Pakistan, attended as Guest of Honour.
Hafiza Dr. Ayesha Yousafzai, Deputy Director, Quality Enhancement Cell, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, also attended the ceremony as a Special Guest.
Founder and Managing Director PHEA Akhtar Shaheen Rind welcomed the guests and said the initiative had been established to recognise excellence, celebrate impact and encourage meaningful improvements across Pakistan’s healthcare system. He also announced that the Second Pakistan Healthcare Excellence Awards would be held at Lahore Expo Centre on March 19, 2027.
Kamran Abbasi, Director of Prime Event Management and organiser of the Pak Pharma & Healthcare Expo, shared his remarks on the initiative. A representative of sole Bronze Sponsor Sind Medical Stores (SMS) also addressed the ceremony and shared his thoughts.
The following Excellence Awards were conferred:
- Sind Medical Stores (SMS) received the Public Health & Preventive Healthcare Excellence Award 2026. Representatives of the organisation received the award.
- Muhammad Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of Neon Chemicals, received the Healthcare Leadership Excellence Award 2026.
- Raheel Ahmed, Founder of Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi, received the Healthcare Leadership Excellence Award 2026 for his services to the haemophilia community.
- Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai, Director Programs/Nutrition, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, received the Public Health & Nutrition Excellence Award 2026.
- M. Rizwan Buttar, Chief Innovation Officer at PHARMA TRAX, received the Pharmaceutical, Diagnostics & Medical Technology Excellence Award 2026 for pharmaceutical digital transformation, traceability innovation and patient safety.
- Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre, represented by Prof. Dr. Farhan Essa Abdullah, received the Pharmaceutical, Diagnostics & Medical Technology Excellence Award 2026. A representative of the organisation received the award.
- Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Chancellor of TUMS, received the Healthcare Leadership Excellence Award 2026. A representative of TUMS received the award on his behalf.
- Sind Medical Stores (SMS) also received the Pharmaceutical, Diagnostics & Medical Technology Excellence Award 2026 for the WHO-prequalified PharmaJet Tropis® Needle-Free Intradermal Injection System. Representatives of SMS received the award.
The awards and Special Recognition honours were presented by Dr. Nadia Noreen, accompanied by Akhtar Shaheen Rind.
Special Recognition was conferred upon:
- Prof. Dr. Hasan Abbas Zaheer, Advisor on Blood Regulation, Availability and Safety, World Health Organization, for his contributions to blood safety and public health.
- Kamran Abbasi, Director, Prime Event Management and organiser of the Pak Pharma & Healthcare Expo, for his leadership and contribution to Pakistan’s healthcare and pharmaceutical exhibition sector.
- Qamar Ahmad, Private Secretary to the Federal Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.
- Rizwana Rahool, Advocacy and Communication Officer, UNODC Pakistan.
- Dr. Syed Aftab Rahim, Deputy National Coordinator, One Health, and Adjunct Faculty, Public Health, Health Services Academy.
- Dr. Sajad Hussain, Associate Professor and Principal, Fatima College of Nursing & Health Sciences, and President, Pakistan Young Nurses Federation, for distinguished leadership and contributions to nursing education and professional development.
- Dr. Luqman Hakim, Medical Director, Public Health Entrepreneur, Physician and Founder, for leadership and contributions to public health, healthcare innovation and voluntary blood donation.
- Jehanzeb Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Nurses Society, Kuwait, for nursing leadership and excellence, including contributions to clinical excellence, education, research and the advancement of the nursing profession in Pakistan and internationally.
- Col. Imtiaz H. Shah (Retd.), former Pakistan Army officer and former Director HR & Administration, ISRA Universities & Medical Colleges, for distinguished leadership and contributions to healthcare education, institutional administration and professional development. He received a Special Recognition brass-plate souvenir.
Akhtar Shaheen Rind and Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai presented a special brass-plate souvenir to Dr. Nadia Noreen in recognition of her participation as the representative of the Federal Health Secretary and Chief Guest.
Certificates of appreciation were also presented to volunteers Karam Akhtar, Sana Akhtar, Javeria Akhtar, Mobin Akhtar, Kaif Jatoi and Muniba Ikram for their contributions to the successful organisation of the ceremony.
The event concluded with a group photograph and media-wall photography sessions featuring award winners, Special Recognition recipients and distinguished guests.
