Dr.Sohail Saqlain, is a renowned Management Specialist for Public Health (Hospital Administration)
Nutrition and Population. His immediate past posting was Member ( Health, Nutrition & Pophulation)/ Executive Director, Multi sectoral Nutrition Centerqn n (MSNC) Planning & Development Board, Government of Punjab. Currently he is working in Punjab Population Innovation Fund (PPIF), Govt of Punjab as Technical Consultant. He has more than 30 years of experience in Health Management , Public Health, Population, Nutrition Sectors and further to that policy making and strategic management. He is a graduate of King Edward Medical College, Lahore (1983). He also holds specialisation in clinical field ( Ear, Nose & Throat) from College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan (1989) He was trained in Health Management for developing countries at UK, University of Birmingham / Queen Elizabeth (1991) and later acquired further expertise in policy making and performance evaluation with NHS UK. He has been trained by stalwarts of Health Management anud Policy Development like; Prof Mike Harley, Prof. Peter Hornby and Dr. Don K White.
After Masters in health management , he has served in Punjab on key positions and contributed in different health sector projects / programs/consequential legislation and amendments in drug rules, pure food rules, anti quackery legislation, mis- use of allopathy, Community Opthalmology etc.
Acquired further expertise with WHO Department of Public Health University of Westren Australia Perth as Research Assistant, University of Tokyo JICA (Development of Global Health Officer- Health Futurist) and Harvard School of Public Health, USA ( Fellow; Health System Strengthening) .
He always tried to put in new interventions through innovative management techniques in health, nutrition and population sectors in a smart manner at Secretariat level Punjab, NA/GB and Federal Govt (Add Secretary Technical, Health, Punjab, PD Jinnah Burn Center, MD Punjab Health Foundation, ED, SM&IPU, Secretary Health & Population Welfare NA/GB & Joint Secreatry P&D, Ministry of Health and Devolution, Cabinet Division Federal Govt) as well as at teaching hospitals (MS Lady Aitchison, PIC & Jinnah Hospitals and at grass root levels.
As Secretary Health & Population Welfare GB, was also holding the additional charge of Secretary Education and Chairman/Governor Inspection Team NA/GB. He was also Member of Board of Jankie Devi Trust Hospital and was attending meetings of Board as Deputy Secreatry/ Additional Secretary Tech Health 1999-2003 & 2004-08.
It was in recognition to his performance throughout that he was cleared for regular induction into the civil services.
His most convincing skill has been to mobilise resources, ensure enforcement of standards, amend rules according to new requirements of medical profession, adopt professional approach to build capacity of HHR, ensure observance of medical ethics by implementing model of “courtesy, concern and care” bring all stakeholders on one platform and harmonise with international partners to improve patient care and ensure quality health services on laid down standards by introducing cross subsidy, public private partnerships and social safety nets.
He has successfully launched Rescue 1122 as Focal Person, established Jinnah Burn Center as PD, upgraded A&E departments of 19 teaching hospitals under SEMS as Focal Person, started first BSc nursing at College of Nursing, Allama Iqbal Medical College,Lahore, carried out legislation for mandatory screening of blood, prohibition of smoking and protection of non smokers health, developed manuals for MSDS and EHSP with the support of DFID, established GB Pharmacy Council, launched Northern Area KfW project, “ NA Health Development Project”, set up schools of community midwives at Skardu and Gilgit with the support of UNICEF, Strengthened the Population Welfare Directorate, GB through enhanced as well as effective donor engagement, Automation of GB DHQ hospitals by an MoU with JICA, Disease Surveillance System in GB with the assistance of WHO and was convener of the committee to establish Federal Medical College Islamabad. As JS P&D MoH and Cabinet Div, he was Focal Person for releases of PSDP Funds for health Sector 2010-12, NNS 2010-11 and also of One UN Program 2012-13 respectively. As ED, SM&IPU he successfully
launched Maintenace and Cleanliness System (MACS), Biomedical equipment DSR through IT based systems and complaint management system of tertiary care hospitals and redressal through IT based solutions. Established new A&E department of PIC including provision of CT angio through Italian grant and up graded facilities of A&E department of Jinnah Hospital. Dr. Saqlain is a visiting faculty to Harvard School of Public Health, USA, Civil Services Academy which also includes as Professor of Health System Strengthening at Health Services Academy (HSA), Islamabad and earlier on to NIPA LAhore. He is office bearer and active member of Birmingham Alumni Assiciation of Pakistan , British Alumni of Pakistan. JICA, Harvard, WBI alumni, Australian Association of Public Health etc. He is a poet and writer. His book “ Nargis I Abbi” is innovative piece of literature presenting Urdu translation of famous English poems and “ Gardish I Doraan” reflects his time spent over three decades in service.
While in P&D Board, he facilitated in establishing Cardiac Center at DG Khan, Mother & Child Hospital MianWali, Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore l, Nishter II Hospital etc He envisaged to provide new strategic direction to health care delivery system in Punjab by focussing on Human Development, Integrated Disease Surveillance Response System, Health System Strengthening, Family Spacing, Strengthening PPIF and adopting out of the box solutions for improving family planning services , Innovative strategies to improve indicators relating to Nutririon like; MSNC, SUN movement network etc. He envisaged to provide new strategic direction to MSNC in 2019 as Member P& D Board and launched the center by broadening it’s scope and making it truly multi sectoral platform.
Dr. Saqlain has an illustrious career and made remarkable contribution in health, nutrition, population, emergency services and other sectors within the country as well as abroad. Strengthening and broadening scope of MSNC by including 17 sectors including Population and vision of replicating Southern Punjab MSNC to Northern and Central Punjab , Punjab, activating SUN Movement Networks as SUN Lead Consultant Punjab Unicef and SUN Focal Person, Nutrition Information System and Punjab Nutrition Directorate are hallmarks of Dr. Saqlain’s outstanding contribution at P&D Board, Punjab. Dr. Saqlain’s main areas of expertise are harmonising with international development partners and adopting innovative approaches to improve health, nutrition and population welfare sectors.
