Message from the Director
t gives me great pleasure to welcome the participants of the
ninth cohort of the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) at
the Health Services Academy, Islamabad. This year, it is a
revised, state-of-the-art programme which is prepared now with the
help of internationally experts from the field of Public Health. You have
been very carefully chosen to participate in this programme. Your
pursuance of admission in the MSPH programme reflects your interest
and desire to pursue public health as your career. In 1996, the
Academy undertook a small yet a giant venture in starting the first
Master of Public Health Programme offered in public sector in the
country. The degree is awarded by the Quaid-i-Azam University,
Islamabad, and is recognised by the Pakistan Medical and Dental
Council. To date, over 2000 public health workers have received short-
term training in various disciplines at HSA.
The faculty of the Academy comprises qualified experts in public health disciplines. They are a highly
dedicated group, who have struggled hard and made possible for the Academy to be recognized as an
institute of repute. The training programmes designed and given at the Academy are unique, in that most
of the trainings are structured through problem-based learning.
Moreover, both the students and the faculty are heavily involved in applied research, the results of which
are not only published, but are of direct benefit to the communities and the health care providers. The
results are also used to refine the academic training given at the Academy. Since recently, HSA enjoys
an autonomous status like any leading academic and research institution in public health worldwide.
In 2006, the Academy moved to its new permanent campus. It is not yet complete, but it shows the
commitment of the Government of Pakistan to HSA. The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) is a long-
term partner of HSA providing technical support to HSA. Over the last year, HSA has strengthened ties
with other international education and research institutions. This collaboration enriches the training of
the students and gives them exposure to the latest knowledge of international public health trends.
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