Karachi, Pakistan – February 17 2026: A timely workshop titled “Rising Temperatures, Rising Risks: Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases in the Era of Climate Change” was held at the Seminar Hall, 4th Floor, Old Building, Indus University Hospital. The session brought together healthcare professionals to explore the growing intersection between climate change and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with a focus on strengthening primary care responses.
The workshop highlighted the link between climate change and worsening outcomes of NCDs such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory conditions. Participants discussed how extreme heat, environmental disruptions, and climate-related emergencies can disproportionately affect high-risk populations, while also creating system-level barriers that disrupt continuity of care.
Through interactive discussions, attendees identified practical and context-appropriate strategies to maintain essential NCD services during climate-related disruptions. Emphasis was placed on climate-resilient approaches to preparedness, service delivery, and response planning within primary care settings. The session encouraged participants to translate evidence into actionable steps that can be implemented in real-world clinical environments.
By the end of the workshop, participants strengthened their understanding of climate-driven health risks, recognized vulnerable populations and service gaps, and explored sustainable strategies to ensure continuity of NCD care.
The workshop featured an expert panel including Dr. Asaad Nafees, Assistant Professor, Community Health Department, Aga Khan University; Dr. Anum Arshad Beg, Assistant Professor and Head, Family Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences; and faculty members from Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), including Dr. Aiesha Faisal, Dr. Afsheen Faraz, Dr. Tania Najeeb, Dr. Samrah Jamil, Dr. Farhana Rahman, and Dr. Samra Zaidi, Specialists in Family Medicine.
The initiative reflects IHHN’s commitment to addressing emerging global health challenges and strengthening resilient, patient-centered primary care systems in the face of climate change.