The PRU, or Policy Research Unit, is a working group within PILL dedicated to developing evidence-based policy solutions. It supports PILL projects that involve the “Engaging with Policymakers” work package. Specifically, PRU contributes to Work Package 5 (WP-5), which focuses on policymaker engagement, across various projects such as BURNS (NIHR203082), Moving on ABC (NIHR205561), and ACROSS for Cardiac Rehabilitation (NIHR205540). Moreover, the PRU aims to involve important stakeholders & policymakers by presenting key health agendas to drive health reform.
Vision
To be the global leading center of excellence for evidence-based and sustainable healthcare policy solutions.
Mission
To conduct rigorous, interdisciplinary research to inform policy development and implementation and to provide decision-makers with useful and actionable insights; encourage informed discussions and collaborations between policy makers and stakeholders addressing pressing societal challenges; and promoting equitable and sustainable solutions relevant to health and wellbeing.
Aims & Objectives
- Determine the impact of health policy and social protection policies interventions, initiatives, and programs.
- Produce and disseminate high-quality research on healthcare issues.
- Inform and influence policy development and decision-making.
- Build partnerships and collaborations with policymakers and a wide range of stakeholders.
- Strengthen the capacity of policymakers & stakeholders to understand & utilize research evidence in decision-making.
- Serve as a trusted source of expertise and analysis on key policy issues.
PRU’s Birth Story
Since its inception, the Pakistan Institute of Living & Learning (PILL) has collaborated with psychologists, academics, civil society, and government officials across Pakistan to promote mental health and wellbeing. With active offices in Sindh, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad, and Nawabshah, PILL’s efforts led to strategic partnerships, including an MoU with the Sindh Health Department and collaborations with organizations like Taskeen. In 2019, a Round Table Conference in the UK, co-hosted with the Royal College of Psychiatrists, laid the foundation for Sindh’s Mental Health Policy. This momentum led to the first All-Parliamentary Mental Health Summit in 2020, further advancing Pakistan’s National Mental Health Strategy.
Legislative progress followed, including the Self-harm and Suicide Decriminalisation Bill—approved in 2022—decriminalizing attempted suicide in Pakistan. To institutionalize advocacy, Prof. Nusrat Husain established the Policy Research Unit (PRU) in 2021 to bridge research with policymaking. Projects like CMAP, YCMAP, BURNS Rehab, Moving on After Breast Cancer, and Cardiac Rehab integrated policy engagement components. Major milestones included the launch of Suicide Prevention Guidelines (Sept 2023), the Substance Misuse Policy (Dec 2023), and Sindh’s first Mental Health Policy (Jan 2024), marking a transformative era in mental health governance.