Infection Prevention Control & Antimicrobial Stewardship
The Health Services Academy (HSA), in collaboration with the Global Health Equity Forum (GHEF), has successfully established and implemented the Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a pioneering initiative focused on strengthening healthcare safety, WASH standards, hygiene practices, and clean healthcare environments in Pakistan and beyond. The diploma program, led by Director and Lead Facilitator Dr. Hasan Orooj, is aligned with WHO IPC Core Components and global AMR strategies, aiming to develop a skilled workforce capable of implementing evidence-based IPC, AMR, sanitation, environmental cleaning, and patient safety practices across healthcare systems.
HSA and GHEF have successfully completed the second batch training activities of the PG Diploma in IPC & AMR, with 72 participants from highly diverse professional backgrounds. The batch included medical doctors, dentists, microbiologists, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and healthcare practitioners from across Pakistan as well as international participants. These multidisciplinary professionals received extensive academic and practical training to strengthen competencies in infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, healthcare-associated infection control, surveillance systems, WASH implementation, environmental hygiene, and safe patient care practices.
The practical training sessions were conducted in major healthcare institutions across Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar, enabling participants to gain hands-on exposure to real-time IPC and AMR implementation strategies in diverse healthcare settings. The program strongly emphasized clean and safe healthcare facilities, proper sanitation, hand hygiene, environmental disinfection, waste management, and the creation of hazard-free environments that support quality patient care while protecting healthcare workers and communities from infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance threats.
The HSA-GHEF collaboration continues to play a vital role in strengthening national IPC and AMR capacity building through academic excellence, professional training, international collaboration, and implementation-focused learning. The program reflects a strong commitment toward developing future IPC and AMR leaders capable of promoting cleaner, safer, and more resilient healthcare systems at national, regional, and global levels.
