Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal has said that 70 percent of diseases in the country originate from contaminated water, and without adopting the principle that “prevention is better than cure,” it is impossible to improve public health. He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a two-day Regional Seminar on Diabetes and Herbal Medicines at the Health Services AcademyThe Health Minister said that diabetes is the mother of all diseases, and every fourth citizen in Pakistan is now suffering from this condition, while hospitals are overcrowded with patients. He said that no matter how many hospitals are built, unless precaution, clean water, lifestyle medicine, and a stronger public-health infrastructure are ensured, it is not possible to fully curb diseasesMustafa Kamal said that contaminated water and a poor sewerage system are the main causes behind the rapid spread of illnesses in the country. According to him, if clean drinking water is provided, the burden on hospitals can be reduced by up to 70 percent. Referring to pollution in water sources from Gilgit-Baltistan to Karachi, he emphasized establishing local-level sewage treatment systemsHe expressed concern over anti-vaccination campaigns, stating that the government provides free vaccines to protect children from 13 major diseases, yet a certain group is spreading misinformation and putting public health at risk. He termed the promotion of herbal medicines and natural treatment methods as the need of the hourDr. Shehzad Ali Khan, in his address, said that the rising prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan is alarming. If primary healthcare, improved nutrition, physical activity, and timely screening are not made national priorities, the healthcare system will come under severe strain in the coming years. He said that lifestyle medicine and research on herbal remedies must become a permanent part of national health policy.Muhammad Ali, Commissioner of Social Security Punjab, said that diabetes cases are rapidly increasing among the working class, creating additional burden on social security hospitals. Public awareness campaigns, he stressed, are essential for prevention Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Qambrani, former Health Secretary Balochistan, said that the shortage of clean water and a weak sewerage system are major drivers of disease in Balochistan, and with government attention, disease rates can be significantly reduced Professor Dr. Muhammad Tariq (HSA) highlighted the usefulness of herbs and plant-based ingredients in the treatment of diabetes. He said that global research in this field is advancing rapidly, and Pakistan must also play an academic role in this area Professor Dr. Shahid Baig, Dean of Life Sciences (HSA), said that many plant-based compounds are proving helpful in managing diabetes. He stressed that scientific evaluation and approval of herbal medicines is a necessity of the timesOn this occasion, Dr. Mati-ur-Rehman (Health Sciences) said that most diseases in Pakistan are spreading due to unhealthy lifestyles and lack of physical activity, and national-level measures are required to reverse this trend Professor Dr. Samina Naeem (HSA) expressed concern over the increasing cases of diabetes among women, especially gestational diabetes during pregnancy. She said that this condition is often overlooked, even though it can be dangerous for both mother and child.
