7TH INTERNATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH CONFERENCE (IHRC) 2026: ADVANCING EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH SYSTEMS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The 7th International Health Research Conference (IHRC) 2026, organized by the Health Research Advisory Board (HealthRAB), was successfully held in Lahore on 16–17 May 2026, serving as an important platform to promote health research, innovation, and evidence-based healthcare in Pakistan. The conference featured an inaugural dinner at King Edward Medical University and the main scientific sessions at the Institute of Public Health, Lahore. Under the theme “One Nation, One Record, One Registry Network,” it emphasized integrated health systems, interoperable registries, digital health infrastructure, and data-driven healthcare governance.

The conference brought together national and international experts through keynote addresses, panel discussions, and three scientific sessions focused on digital health transformation, disease registries, research governance, stakeholder collaboration, and industry–academia partnerships. The event concluded with awards recognizing excellence in medical sciences, public health research, and health journalism.

As a major outcome, the conference generated five key recommendations focused on strengthening Pakistan’s health research ecosystem at the national directive, provincial implementation, and HealthRAB support levels. These include: establishing a National Disease Registry Network; strengthening research culture, capacity building, and collaborative networks; integrating digital health and research systems nationwide; enhancing government engagement, policy bridging, and evidence-based planning; and fostering national industry engagement alongside sustainable research financing.