Interorganizational Collaborations and Improving Surgical Access to Pediatric Cardiac Care in Pakistan: an NGO’s Perspective

Abstract

Infectious diseases, such as diarrhea and pneumonia, account for almost half the global burden of premature death in children in low-and-middle income countries (LMIC). The persistent global response has helped reduce this ratio substantially over time. This should redirect the call to action towards non-communicable diseases. Pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) can be cited as one of the leading causes of avertible mortality in Pakistan. One of the main reasons is the inability of patient families to access timely surgical treatment. This can be attributed to (i) low prioritization of CHD management by the government (ii) low resources such as workforce, medical supplies and technology and (iii) inadequate financing options. Engaging international stakeholders towards CHD complex care in Pakistan presents challenges. To make surgery more accessible, domestic solutions provide more feasibility. This paper provides a commentary of an NGO’s perspective on integrating Interorganizational Collaborations (IOCs) into the existing CHD infrastructure in Pakistan as an innovative approach to tackling these challenges.