.png)
Dr. Zafar Mirza , SAPM/ MoS, NHSR&C
Dr. Zafar Mirza is currently serving as Director |Health System Development at the World Health Organization Regional Office in Cairo.
Assigning health at the federal level to a top expert in the field with years of experience of working in the health sector in Pakistan and at regional and global level augurs well for the reform agenda promised by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The new incumbent has the vision, capacity and capability to introduce and implement sweeping reforms in health to fulfill commitment made by the Prime Minister.
Until yesterday Dr. Zafar Mirza was serving at the post of Director Health System Development at World Health Organization Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean based in Cairo Egypt which was responsible for 22 countries spread over Middle East, North Africa and Western Africa. The post portfolio cover Universal Health Coverage, Primary Healthcare, health governance and financing, health workforce development, Integrated health service delivery, pharmaceuticals and health technologies.
Dr. Zafar Mirza also served as acting World Health Organization Representative in Islamic Republic of Iran. He also remained Team leader Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property at WHO Geneva. Dr. Mirza remained Regional Adviser Essential Medicine and Pharmaceutical in Cairo. He served as Founding National Coordinator in The Network for Consumer Protection in Pakistan.
Eisenhower Fellow (2004); Britannia Scholar (1994); Masters in Public Health (London); Had been on the faculty of Boston School of Public Health, Joint Faculty of World Health Organization Harvard Medical School and Federal Health Services Academy of Pakistan.
Dr. Mirza’s important national contributions includes Prohibition of Smoking in Enclosed Places and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance 2002, The Protection of Breast-feeding and Child Nutrition Ordinance 2002, first National Essential Medicines List, first National Medicines Policy and conceptualization of Drug Regulatory Authority.
Dr. Zafar Mirza has number of national and international publications including co-authoring a millstone joint publication by WHO, WTO and WIPO promoting access to medical technologies and innovation – intersections between public health, intellectual property and trade.
He also led development of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development Strategy for Ethiopia.