Pak-India collaborations in health: insights and way forward

Commonalities abound varied health challenges confronting Pakistan and India. Some of these warrant joint collaborative solutions. This study presents existing health collaborations by mapping out active connections between the countries, through a literature review and clinical and public health professionals' interviews. It reveals that a diversity of practices exist beyond the usual notions of 'collaboration' usually depicted in the literature. Outcomes from such initiatives included enhanced learning and exchanges of information and research across various communities and contexts. In various adoptions of the term, contextualisation within and between countries and amongst particular communities is cited as important. Travel and mobility restriction emerged as one key issue that hampers and discourages collaborations. Key lessons conveyed by the participants included an enabling environment, missing on both sides of the border. Opportunities and recommendations are presented to address the obstacles that discourage cross-border dialogue and to enhance collaborations between the two countries.