Pakistan HC in London hosts health tech market access forum

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to collaborate with UK’s AI, HealthTech, and FinTech sectors, the Economic Minister’s office at Pakistan’s High Commission in London hosted the inaugural “Pakistan is Open for Business: A Health Tech Market Access Forum.”
The forum spotlighted the role of these industries in driving Pakistan’s economic growth and creating avenues for investment and collaboration, besides marking the beginning of initiatives to strengthen ties between Pakistani entrepreneurs and the UK market, promoting innovation and global cooperation.
In her opening remarks, Dr Samina Zehra, Pakistan’s Economic Minister, emphasised the significance of service-driven economies and digital transformation. “Services are the lifeblood of economies, and digital connectivity is the new Silk Route,” she said.
Dr Zehra highlighted Pakistan’s potential in knowledge-driven sectors and reaffirmed the Economic Wing’s commitment to fostering sustainable, people-centric collaborations between Pakistani health tech professionals and the UK’s healthcare market.
The forum brought together leading industry experts, entrepreneurs, and startups to address key topics, including UK health tech regulations, the role of AI in healthcare, and strategies for integrating Pakistani innovations into the NHS ecosystem.
The event also featured participation from 40 Pakistani IT companies, facilitated virtually, with the Pakistan Software Houses Association acting as a key outreach partner.
On the occasion, speakers called for benefiting from opportunities in the UK market.
Hassan Chaudhury, Commercial Director at the UK Health Data Research Hub, detailed NHS structures and market openings, while Omar Butt, Strategic Development Lead for Health Innovation at Imperial College London, shared strategies for scaling health tech solutions. Shaukat Ali Khan, Global CIO at Aga Khan University and NHS Board Member, discussed pathways for Pakistani startups to penetrate the UK healthcare ecosystem.
A panel discussion moderated by Rabia Khan, Principal Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, featured distinguished experts, including Dr Sara Saeed Khurram, CEO and Co-Founder of Sehat Kahani, whose telemedicine platform has revolutionised healthcare access in Pakistan, reaching over two million patients.
Other panelists included Wajid Hussain, Consultant Cardiologist and Digital Health Director at the Royal College of Physicians; and Nabeel Goheer, Chief of Asia, Middle East, and Europe at PATH.
The panel explored strategies for market entry, fostering innovation, and promoting cross-border entrepreneurship. Discussions underscored the potential for Pakistani health tech innovations to address challenges in the UK healthcare sector, including accessibility, cost efficiency, and digital transformation.
With a strong participation by experts, the forum highlighted Pakistan’s growing role in global HealthTech and reinforced opportunities for collaboration in innovation-driven sectors.