Pakistan’s Ministry of Health and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have unveiled ‘One Patient One ID,’ a groundbreaking digital health system that links medical records to Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) numbers.
The ‘One Patient One ID’ system assigns an individual’s CNIC number as their permanent Medical Record (MR) number, accessible at healthcare facilities nationwide. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, who reviewed the plan with NADRA Chairman Lt Gen Mohammad Munir Afsar, emphasised its transformative potential. “There’s currently no proper data system for patient records in Pakistan,” Kamal said. “Now, the CNIC will act as the MR number nationwide.”
This integration enables seamless access to patient histories, reducing inefficiencies and supporting telemedicine. “Doctors and medicines will reach people at their homes through telemedicine,” Kamal added, addressing the growing demand for remote healthcare services.
Addressing Healthcare Challenges
Kamal highlighted the strain on major hospitals, noting that 70% of patients bypass local clinics and basic health units. The new system aims to decentralise care, ease pressure on urban facilities, and better serve Pakistan’s growing population. By creating a unified digital framework, ‘One Patient One ID’ will enhance coordination between primary and tertiary care providers.
The initiative has been hailed as a landmark reform. The Health Research Advisory Board (HealthRAB) called it a “historic milestone” for healthcare data governance. Prof Abdul Basit, HealthRAB Chairman and a leading diabetologist, praised Kamal and Afsar for their “visionary, game-changing move.” “By declaring the CNIC as the universal medical record number, Pakistan is leaping toward integrated, patient-centric care,” Basit said.
Basit underscored the system’s potential to detect undiagnosed conditions like diabetes and hypertension, improve disease surveillance, and build real-time databases for chronic diseases. “This will strengthen preventive and primary care while easing hospital burdens,” he noted, highlighting its role in evidence-based policymaking.
