Karachi: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has raised serious concerns over the country’s deteriorating healthcare system, stating that the government has failed to provide basic human needs such as clean drinking water and proper waste management. As a result, millions of people across Pakistan are struggling to access even the most basic medical treatment, with essential medicines and minor surgeries now beyond the reach of many.
These revelations came as the PMA launched its Health of the Nation Report 2025 at PMA House in Karachi. The report highlights alarming challenges, including high maternal and child mortality rates, the resurgence of preventable diseases, and a lack of investment in public health.
Speaking at the event, PMA-Centre Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro criticized the government for repeatedly increasing medicine prices. “In the past five years, drug prices have been hiked at least 15 times,” he lamented. He also pointed to recent demands by the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) for another price hike on 262 essential medicines, citing unsustainable production costs.
Dr. Shoro warned that these rising costs are making it impossible for poor and middle-class citizens to afford treatment. “Public hospitals already lack basic facilities, and now, expensive medicines are forcing patients to suffer—or even die—without care,” he said.
The report highlights Pakistan’s failure to invest in preventive healthcare, noting that access to clean drinking water could reduce 60% of waterborne diseases, while eliminating mosquitoes could cut vector-borne diseases by 40%.
Dr. Shoro emphasized that contaminated water is responsible for 40% of deaths annually in Pakistan, surpassing fatalities from terrorism and natural disasters combined. “Nearly 30% of all diseases in the country are linked to poor water quality. Immediate investment in water purification and sanitation infrastructure is necessary to prevent further loss of life,” he urged.
Expressing concern over the resurgence of polio, the PMA called for an audit of donor-funded projects and greater transparency in government efforts to eradicate the disease.
“The 74 reported cases in 2024 are just the tip of the iceberg. Many cases go unreported, and the actual situation is far worse,” Dr. Shoro warned, urging aggressive measures to curb the spread of the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks Pakistan 125th out of 170 countries in terms of public health and population crisis. The country’s population, currently over 253 million, is growing at an alarming rate of 2.4% per year and is projected to reach 403 million by 2050.
“This rapid increase is straining food security, healthcare, education, and housing. Unfortunately, policymakers have failed to develop long-term strategies to address these challenges,” the report warns.
Pakistan is among the top five countries globally for Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence and has the fourth highest number of cases of drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Additionally, Hepatitis B and C affect over 15 million people, with 150,000 new cases reported annually.
Maternal and child health remains a significant concern, with 14% of pregnant women undernourished and 42% suffering from anemia, leading to complications and low birth weight. The exclusive breastfeeding rate is just 48%, contributing to child malnutrition, which affects over 40% of children under five.
Pakistan also faces a high burden of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health disorders, with rates higher than many other countries.
The PMA urged the government to prioritize healthcare reforms, invest in preventive measures, and take immediate action to control medicine prices, improve sanitation, and strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
Dr. Ameer Muhammad Solangi and Dr. Shahid Sami, who also spoke at the event, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that without urgent intervention, Pakistan’s healthcare crisis will continue to worsen, putting millions of lives at risk.
