In August 2020, Faisal Sultan, a Pakistani physician, transitioned from his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, where he served from 2003 to 2020, to being appointed as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services.
Education
Faisal Sultan attended Cadet College Hasan Abdal in Pakistan from 1975 to 1980, graduating from King Edward Medical College. He pursued further studies in the United States, completing his internal medicine training at the University of Connecticut (1989-92) and infectious disease training at the Washington University School of Medicine (1992-1995). Faisal Sultan is certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, UK, in 2007 and a Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Pakistan (Infectious Diseases) in 2010.
Career
In 1995, Faisal Sultan assumed the role of Consultant Physician in Infectious Disease at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. He then progressed to become the Medical Director from 2000 to 2002, eventually taking on the position of Chief Executive Officer from 2003 until August 2020.
Amidst the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Sultan’s expertise led to his appointment as the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on COVID-19 in Pakistan. Subsequently, in August 2020, he was further appointed as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services in Pakistan.
Professional Contributions and Leadership
Faisal Sultan has actively contributed to medical education as a trainer and examiner in Infectious Diseases for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan. Additionally, he has served as a member of technical advisory committees for various organizations, including the National AIDS Control Program, Pakistan Medical Research Council, Pakistan Science Foundation, University of Health Sciences of Pakistan, School of Biological Sciences at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, the Punjab Healthcare Commission, and the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Advisory Committee (HVAC) of the World Health Organization (WHO).
In his commitment to advancing healthcare standards, Sultan played a role in formulating Pakistan’s National Accreditation Standards for Hospitals as part of the Core Group, under the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, he has authored multiple scientific publications, showcasing his dedication to contributing to the field of medicine.
Faisal Sultan has held positions on the Prime Minister’s task force on health, chaired the board of governors for the Medical Teaching Institute at Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar, and contributed to the steering committee for the Punjab Health Strategic Plan.