Health Services Academy Emerges as Pakistan’s Premier Institution for Public Health Training and Research
Islamabad, Aug 3, . The Health Services Academy (HSA), Pakistan’s premier Degree Awarding Institute (DAI) for Public Health Sciences, continues to address the nation’s critical shortage of skilled public health professionals in line with the government of Pakistan’s Human Resource for Health Vision 2023. Established in 1988 under the Ministry of Health and gaining autonomy in 2002, HSA became the first DAI in Public Health in 2018, recognized by the Higher Education Commission. Located in Islamabad, HSA offers a range of programs, including Postgraduate Diplomas (PGDs), Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MS), and PhD in Public Health, equipping professionals to tackle Pakistan’s pressing health challenges.
HSA’s programs are designed to meet the dire need for trained human resources in Pakistan’s health sector, where rural and semi-urban areas face inadequate healthcare coverage. The BS in Public Health fosters skills in disease prevention, health promotion, and policy analysis, while the flagship program MS in Public Health (MSPH), emphasizes advanced training in epidemiology, health systems analysis, and leadership. The first ever PhD program in Public health of Pakistan, offered since 2012, develops high-level expertise for research and policy-making, addressing the scarcity of doctoral-level professionals. HSA’s PGDs, including specialties like Hospital Management, Global Health Security, Health Diplomacy, and Health Policy & Management provide practical training for immediate workforce integration.
By offering subsidized online short courses, HSA enhances capacity building and knowledge transfer. These efforts align with Pakistan’s Universal Health Coverage goals, training professionals to deliver quality care at the community level. With a faculty of renowned experts and state-of-the-art facilities, HSA remains a beacon of excellence, producing graduates who drive transformative change in Pakistan’s health landscape, strengthening systems, and improving community well-being. Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor of Health Services Academy (HSA) in Islamabad, envisions transforming the institution into a leading hub for public health education and research. His goal is to foster public-private partnerships to secure funding and introduce diverse, innovative courses to train the next generation of health professionals. Recently, HSA has been selected as one of the five centers of excellence in central Asia for establishing a MS degree program in Global Health in Pakistan with the support of ADB and GOPA.
