Health and Pakistan

Overview

Access to quality healthcare and nutrition security is essential for human capital development and economic growth. Pakistan has committed to improving health outcomes in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and the National Health Vision 2016-2025, which focuses on healthcare reforms and equitable service delivery.

Health and Nutrition Indicators

Pakistan has made progress in some health indicators but faces challenges in others:

Improving Indicators

• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): Declined to 154 per 100,000 births (from 179).
• Child Mortality Rates:
  • Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR): 39.4 per 1,000 live births (from 40.4).
  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): 52.8 per 1,000 live births (from 54.4).
  • Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR): 63.3 per 1,000 live births (from 65.5).

Stagnant or Declining Indicators

• Tuberculosis (TB) Incidence: Increased to 264 per 100,000 people (from 255).
• Measles Immunization: Dropped to 81% coverage (from 83%).
• HIV Prevalence: Remained stable at 0.2%.

Nutrition Indicators

• Anemia in Women (15-49 years): 41.3% (no improvement).
• Exclusive Breastfeeding (0-5 months): 47.8% (on track for global targets).
• Child Malnutrition:
  • Stunting (low height-for-age): 37.6% (higher than Asia’s 21.8%).
  • Wasting (low weight-for-height): 7.1% (lower than Asia’s 8.9%).

Healthcare Workforce and Infrastructure

• Doctors: Increased to 282,383 (from 266,430).
• Nurses: 127,855 (from 121,245).
• Hospitals & Clinics: 1,276 hospitals, 5,832 dispensaries, and 5,559 Basic Health Units (BHUs).

Healthcare Financing

• Public Health Expenditure: 1.4% of GDP (up from 1.0%).
• Federal PSDP Allocation (2023): Rs 22.4 billion for 62 health projects.

Key Government Initiatives

1. Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
   • Sehat Sahulat Programme (SSP): Expanded health insurance coverage.
   • Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS): Focused on primary and secondary care.
2. Disease Control Programs
   • Polio Eradication: Sub-national immunization campaigns reached 25 million children.
   • TB Control: 94% treatment success rate, with 339,256 cases treated.
   • Malaria Control: Distributed insecticide-treated nets and rapid diagnostic tests.
   • HIV/AIDS Control: 29,626 patients on antiretroviral therapy.
3. Cancer Treatment
   • Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) runs 19 cancer hospitals, treating 40,000 patients annually.
4. Post-Flood Recovery (2022)
   • 13% of health facilities damaged; recovery estimated at Rs 40.3 billion.

Nutrition Security Efforts

• Multi-Sectoral National Nutrition Policy (MS-NNP): Under development.
• School Meal Programs: Piloted to combat child malnutrition.
• Food Availability:
  • Cereals: 145.7 kg per capita (declined).
  • Meat & Milk: Increased availability.
  • Caloric Intake: 2,567.5 kcal/day (above minimum requirements).

Provincial Health Initiatives

• Punjab: Stunting Reduction Program in 11 districts.
• Sindh: Outsourced 1,197 health facilities for better service delivery.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Rs 17 billion allocated for health schemes.
• Balochistan: Launched Health Card Program for universal coverage.

Challenges & Outlook

• Funding Gaps: Dependence on foreign aid (e.g., U.S. cuts affecting TB programs).
• Disease Burden: Rising TB and stagnant HIV rates.
• Malnutrition: High stunting rates despite progress.

Conclusion

Pakistan continues to strengthen its healthcare system through policy reforms, disease control programs, and nutrition interventions. However, sustained investment, better data collection, and multi-sectoral collaboration are needed to achieve SDG 3 and ensure long-term health security.

Sources:

• Pakistan Economic Survey
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Global Nutrition Report
• Pakistan Bureau of Statistics