ISLAMABAD: The Health Services Academy (HSA), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, on Tuesday launched the National Training of Trainers (ToT) Program on One Health Workforce Development and Coordination for Pandemic Readiness. The three-day workshop, held at the Islamabad Club, aims to build a coordinated and skilled workforce of mid-level district managers and frontline workers capable of responding to future pandemics and endemic health threats.
Prof. Dr. Tariq Mahmood Ali, National Coordinator for the OHWD Project, opened the session with a presentation on the project’s key features and the structure of the training program. He said the initiative is designed to integrate human, animal and environmental health capacities to create a unified, multi-sectoral workforce for improved pandemic prevention and response. He noted that the ToT curriculum is built around seven core competencies to ensure standardized and high-quality training nationwide, adding that the program represents an important step toward institutionalizing One Health practices at the district level.
Dr. S. M. Mursalin, CEO POHA and Technical Lead for the OHWD Project, shared findings from the Training Needs Assessment (TNA) conducted across departments involved in One Health. He highlighted competency gaps, institutional barriers and sector-specific priorities identified during the assessment. He said the ToT is aligned with these field-based needs and aims to move past the fragmented efforts seen since 2015 by establishing a systematic, results-oriented national platform for pandemic preparedness.
Prof. Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor of HSA and Chief Guest at the event, appreciated the initiative and stressed that the impact of training and capacity-building efforts must ultimately reach the people of Pakistan. He noted that while many institutions have previously worked on One Health concepts, most efforts lacked sustainable, measurable outcomes. He said the national ToT marks a shift toward practical, outcome-driven capacity development, adding that Pakistan’s future pandemic response will depend on well-trained professionals, coordinated systems and evidence-based preparedness mechanisms.
The inaugural session concluded with a renewed commitment from HSA leadership and partner organizations to make the ToT a national milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s workforce and systems for future public health emergencies.
