Dr. Sania Nishtar is a renowned Pakistani physician, entrepreneur, and public health expert. She has an extensive and diverse background in both the public and private sectors, and her contributions to health policy and practice have been recognized both nationally and internationally.
Early Life and Education:
Dr. Sania Nishtar was born on February 1, 1963, in Peshawar, Pakistan. She completed her early education from Lahore Grammar School and later went on to study medicine at Khyber Medical College in Peshawar. After completing her medical degree, she obtained a Master’s in Development Economics from the University of Sussex in the UK, and a Ph.D. in Medicine from King’s College London.
Career:
Dr. Sania Nishtar has an illustrious career in both the public and private sectors. She has worked as a physician, a policy maker, an entrepreneur, and a public health expert. She is the founder and president of Heartfile, a health policy think tank in Pakistan, and the Heartfile Health Financing program, which provides financial assistance to those in need of medical treatment.
Dr. Nishtar has also held several key positions in the Pakistani government, including the Minister of State for Health, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, and Federal Minister of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination. She has also served as a member of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Independent High-Level Commission on Non-Communicable Diseases.
Apart from her work in Pakistan, Dr. Nishtar has been involved in various international organizations and initiatives, such as the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme. She is also a member of the International Advisory Board of the Commonwealth Fund, a US-based foundation focused on healthcare research and policy.
Awards and Honours:
Dr. Sania Nishtar has been recognized for her contributions to health policy and practice with several awards and honors. In 2013, she was awarded the “Global Health Leadership Award” by the New York-based organization, Women Deliver. She has also been awarded the “Sitara-i-Imtiaz,” one of Pakistan’s highest civil awards, in recognition of her services to the country.
In 2018, Dr. Nishtar was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, and in 2020, she was appointed as the chair of the WHO’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
Conclusion:
Dr. Sania Nishtar is a prominent public health expert and entrepreneur, known for her innovative solutions to healthcare challenges. Her contributions to health policy and practice have been recognized both nationally and internationally, and she continues to work towards improving healthcare access and delivery in Pakistan and beyond.
