The dialogue focused on strengthening service delivery systems, improving OSH practices, and enhancing coordination across ESSIs to better support insured workers and those who care for them.

NATHIA GALI, (TW News) – Ensuring Pakistan’s workforce has access to quality, timely, and prevention-focused social security services requires stronger institutional coordination and a renewed focus on occupational safety and health (OSH). Participants at the two-day National Dialogue stressed the need to strengthen OSH systems in Employees’ Social Security Institutions (ESSI)-run health facilities and improve service delivery for millions of insured workers and their families.

This dialogue is part of the ongoing collaboration between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Health Services Academy (HSA) under the Working for Health Programme (W4H), bringing together institutional expertise to strengthen safe and decent working environment in health sector.

ESSIs play a central role in Pakistan’s labour and social protection system by providing healthcare, compensation and rehabilitation services. Strengthening their institutional capacity was identified as critical to building a more efficient, worker-centred and prevention-oriented social security delivery model aligned with international standards and moving towards universal social protection. The dialogue brought together senior representatives from ESSIs in Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Through technical sessions and experience-sharing, participants explored approaches for service enhancement, contribution compliance, hospital governance, and OSH improvements.

Geir Tonstol, Country Director ILO Pakistan, emphasized that: “ESSIs are the frontline of protection for millions of workers and their families. Their central focus is to ensure quality services to workers, however, this is not possible unless safety and health standards for health care workers are ensured. The ILO remains committed to supporting Pakistan in building prevention-focused, internationally aligned OSH systems so that every insured worker receives timely and dignified support. This is core to the Decent Work agenda.”

Professor Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor of the Health Services Academy, said: “This dialogue is an important opportunity to strengthen OSH across the board—whether within government entities delivering services to insured workers or across the wider health workforce. It brings all provincial social security institutions together to exchange knowledge, improve service delivery, and advance decent work in the health sector. The Health Services Academy is committed to supporting this platform and centralising OSH across our systems.”

Muhammad Ali, Commissioner PESSI, stated: “Through our collaboration with the ILO, PESSI has implemented the HealthWISE toolkit across its hospitals, and we are already seeing improvements in ergonomics, safer waste management, and OSH training for staff. We remain committed to expanding our services and delivering quality care, while also building partnerships with other provincial ESSIs so that more workers can benefit from social security.”

Since its start, the ILO–Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)–World Health Organization (WHO) Working for Health Programme in Pakistan has supported social security institutions in strengthening workplace safety, improving service delivery systems, and equipping health professionals and administrators with knowledge and tools to promote preventive, dignified and worker-centred care.