Dr Waris Qidwai
A Global Voice in Primary Care and Health Systems
Most people never meet the powerhouses who shape the way their health providers are taught or the systems that keep their community healthy. But for millions across Pakistan, South Asia, and beyond, Professor Waris Qidwai has quietly been one of those people — a driving force behind stronger primary care systems, better-trained family physicians, and research networks that have transformed how communities receive care.
Professor Qidwai currently serves as Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, having earlier led the department for more than nine years. Throughout his career at AKU and other leading institutions, he has helped strengthen health systems and the foundations of primary care as a discipline, not by merely holding positions but by shaping the field itself: establishing academic programmes, shaping curricula and setting professional standards that have influenced practice across entire regions.
He has played a pivotal role in the promotion of Primary Care Research globally, a contribution that has earned him a position among the world's top 2% most-cited researchers according to Stanford University. For Professor Qidwai, his interests in Primary Care Research, Health Systems, Health Care Models, Geriatrics and Women's Health are not simply academic pursuits; they are the means through which he has tackled real-world health challenges and improved the way frontline care is delivered to populations with diverse needs..
As Chair of WONCA's Working Party on Research (2010–2016) and later Chair and Vice-Chair of the International Federation of Primary Care Research Networks, he championed the creation of research networks in South Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Pakistan - building bridges between countries and institutions so that knowledge, data and innovations could move more freely across borders. His expertise also led him to serve as an Advisor to the World Health Organization. At the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Family Medicine (2010–2015), where his leadership helped establish new postgraduate training pathways that expanded and professionalised family medicine in the country.
A respected voice in global health, Professor Qidwai serves on the International Advisory Board of the British Journal of General Practice and reviews manuscripts for more than two dozen international journals. He is an invited speaker at scientific meetings at national, regional and international levels, has presented over 200 papers, writes editorials for leading medical journals. His scholarship includes more than 190 publications.
Professor Qidwai has also served as Academic Advisor to the South Asia Examination Board for MRCGP (International), helping elevate Family Medicine as a respected academic discipline across the region. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Academy of Family Physicians of India and has supported the development of primary health care across South Asia. He is also a trusted advisor and examiner for boards and universities across the Middle East, South Asia and beyond — from the Arab Board to King Saud University, the University of Jordan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and more. Across each of these institutions, his influence has shaped how doctors are trained, examined, and prepared for real-world practice.
His peers have recognised his contributions repeatedly, including an Honorary Fellowship from the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka and awards from the WONCA for his service to family medicine globally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Faculty of Public Health at the Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom, honoured him for his outstanding contributions to protecting public health - a testament to a career defined by service, leadership, and a vision for equitable health systems that meet people where they are.
