The Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) and Indus University of Health Sciences (IUHS) have inaugurated the 8th Biennial Conference (ICON 2026) at the IHHN Korangi Campus in Karachi, calling for stronger health systems capable of responding to the growing impacts of the climate crisis.
Held under the theme “Resilient Care, Sustainable Future: Bridging Climate Action and Patient-Centered Healthcare,” the conference brings together medical experts, researchers, academics and policymakers for a series of nationwide discussions on healthcare, climate resilience and emerging medical challenges.
Climate Resilience at the Heart of Healthcare
Dr Syed Ahmer Hamid, Chairman of the ICON 2026 Organizing Committee, said climate change is increasingly affecting healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
Referring to Karachi’s experience with extreme heatwaves, he emphasized the need for human-centred and climate-resilient healthcare environments supported by interdisciplinary collaboration.
In his Patron’s Message, IHHN President and CEO Dr Abdul Bari Khan called on healthcare institutions to make sustainability an integral part of their long-term strategies.
He said collective efforts were needed to develop a health system capable of providing free and high-quality healthcare services to people across Pakistan.
Experts Call for Climate-Ready Health Systems
Delivering the keynote address, former federal minister and WHO Director Dr Zafar Mirza welcomed the launch of ICON 2026 and stressed the importance of developing health systems that can withstand environmental crises while maintaining universal health coverage.
Chief Guest Professor Tariq Rafi, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Sindh, called for broader collaboration to strengthen Pakistan’s healthcare system, particularly in rural areas.
He also acknowledged IHHN’s efforts to provide free healthcare services and emphasized the need for collective action to improve the country’s health system.
Guest of Honour Abdul Karim Paracha, Chairman of the IHHN Board of Directors, also attended the inaugural ceremony, while Dr Syed Zafar Zaidi, Dean of IUHS, delivered the vote of thanks.
More Than 50 Scientific Sessions Planned
ICON 2026 follows a year-long academic programme featuring more than 100 pre-conference workshops and symposia held across Pakistan.
The main conference will feature more than 50 scientific sessions, plenary discussions and poster presentations, covering a wide range of medical and healthcare topics.
Key areas include AI in medicine, climate-resilient trauma care, living-donor organ transplantation and pediatric neuro-oncology.
International Experts Join Conference
The conference has also attracted international medical and academic experts, including Dr Peter Schwartz, President of the International Diabetes Federation from Germany, and Dr Naweed Imam Syed of the University of Calgary in Canada.
Following the Karachi sessions, ICON 2026 will move to the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital (RTEH) Campus in Muzaffargarh on October 14.
The conference will conclude at the Jubilee Town Campus in Lahore on October 16–17.
The event highlights the growing intersection between climate change, healthcare infrastructure and patient-centred care, underscoring the need for health systems that can remain functional and accessible during increasingly frequent environmental and climate-related emergencies.