Pakistan, a country located in South Asia, spends very low on its healthcare. Day after day, several challenges of common health issues in Pakistan arise due to the lack of a proper healthcare system. Let’s get to know how healthcare in Pakistan works.
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Healthcare in Pakistan
Pakistan has a mixed health system that includes public, parastatal, private, civil society, philanthropic contributors, and donor agencies. According to a survey by The Lancet, the performance of Pakistan’s healthcare system as a whole places it 154th out of 195 nations. Pakistan struggles to maintain a suitable healthcare system in terms of quality and accessibility as a developing nation with only 2% of its GDP allotted for total health expenses.
The frequent cases of infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases in Pakistan illustrate that the country has a troubled healthcare system.
Long-standing primary causes of death include viral hepatitis, dengue, TB, malaria, typhoid, HIV, and cholera. These common health issues in Pakistan in 2024 are a result of urban overpopulation, subpar sanitation, tainted water supplies, and insufficient socioeconomic conditions.
Pakistan has one of the lowest rates of immunization among developed nations, with a 60% total vaccination rate. As a result, there are a lot of neonatal deaths: 69.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. Additionally, even though polio has been eradicated from the rest of the world, Pakistan is still considered to have an endemic case of the illness. According to records, there were roughly 150 cases of polio in 2019.
Let’s discuss 10 common health issues in Pakistan, the dismayed state of the health system in Pakistan, and how to improve the existing infrastructure and condition of healthcare.
10 Common Health Issues in Pakistan in 2024
In Pakistan, more than 60 million people live below the poverty level. Due to a lack of resources, some folks cannot even meet their most basic demands. Furthermore, they have nowhere to go with a medical diagnosis.
There are not enough local hospitals, nurses, and medical professionals in Pakistan to care for everyone who lives in poverty. The government of Pakistan has not given health care a high priority.
Local hospitals have provided free medical care to the needy, but due to a lack of funding, they are unable to serve a large number of patients at once. Additionally, due to the waiting list, patients who require surgical care at nearby hospitals must wait a very long time.
The patient either passes away or becomes sicker by the time it is their turn. In Pakistan, there are already more than 2 million unfinished procedures, and the figure is rising daily.
On the other hand, residents of rural areas are less conscious of their illness, which prevents them from receiving timely, effective care. In Pakistan, several diseases are common, and the poor are primarily affected by them. Amidst this chaos, common health issues in Pakistan are rising.
Here is a list of common health problems in Pakistan:
Malaria
The bite of a mosquito, which breeds in contaminated water, is what causes malaria. Malaria spreads easily, given the size of the slum population. Malaria can prove fatal without proper treatment.
Slum dwellers frequently lack education and knowledge, so they turn to over-the-counter drugs to cure their illnesses. As a result, malaria has developed drug resistance. According to research from 2014, Pakistan has 1.5 million annual malaria cases.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious illness that affects the lungs and spreads through coughing and sneezing.
According to the WHO, up to two-thirds of tuberculosis patients who receive inadequate care die. Tuberculosis is one of the common health issues in Pakistan that might have permanent effects.
Coughing, fever, exhaustion, chills, and appetite loss are some of the signs and symptoms of tuberculosis.
Pakistan was placed seventh among the 22 nations with the highest rates of tuberculosis, according to the WHO. In Pakistan, there are over 420,000 new tuberculosis cases recorded each year. To assist lower the chance of contracting tuberculosis, the Pakistani government established the National TB Control Program (NTP).
The official NTP website states that it offers skill training for lab technicians, paramedics, and doctors. All diagnosed individuals can also receive a free supply of anti-TB medications under the program.
Dengue Fever
Aedes mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus attack people and spread the mosquito-borne illness, known as dengue fever. Direct transmission from one person to another is not possible.
The illness can cause a high fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and skin rashes, among other symptoms.
It’s possible to confuse the flu or other viral diseases with dengue fever. However, dengue fever is a severe type of virus that, if untreated, can lead to serious illnesses like liver enlargement and circulatory system failure.
Over 250,000 suspected cases of dengue fever were reported in Pakistan during the dengue outbreak in 2011.
In Pakistan, dengue fever killed 348 people between 2009 and 2011. According to the WHO, Pakistan’s government enhanced clinical patient management, strengthened surveillance and general preventative measures, and undertook focused vector control actions to stop future dengue fever outbreaks. Additionally, the government ran public awareness programs to reduce danger.
Cancer
Cancer is one of the most common health issues for Pakistanis, accounting for 8% of all fatalities in the country. The two most prevalent types of cancer in Pakistan are lung and breast cancer.
According to a recent study, breast cancer affects around one in every nine Pakistani women. Additionally, Pakistan has South Asia’s largest tobacco consumption.
Many cancer patients are not diagnosed until they are in advanced stages of the disease, and they frequently lack access to effective therapy. A crucial step toward cancer prevention and control in Pakistan was taken in 2013 with the establishment of a cancer registry that gathers information on cancer patients from throughout the nation.
In 2016, 18 cancer treatment facilities in Pakistan were working on hospital-based registries. These hospitals provide about 80 percent of cancer treatment in Pakistan.
Ischemic Heart Disease
In Pakistan, ischemic heart disease is responsible for 12.22% of deaths per year. You can distinguish by constricted coronary arteries, which carry blood to the heart muscle.
The three main risk factors—smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure—are all quite prevalent in Pakistan.
Heart disease occurs due to an unhealthy lifestyle and a lack of awareness, just like other diseases. Public health awareness efforts and simple access to healthcare services can significantly lower the occurrence of such diseases.
Stroke
Approximately 350,000 cases are reported each year in Pakistan.
High blood pressure is the main cause of stroke.
In Pakistan, people do not have access to wholesome food. A daily gambler or worker cannot maintain a healthy diet. They cannot purchase salads and fruits. They just consume what they can afford.
The most common health issues in Pakistan, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol occur due to the use of low-quality oils and ghee. In addition, ignorance is another factor contributing to it.
People do not receive education on the value of eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, they are ignorant of the significance of exercising and keeping a healthy weight.
Diabetes
Seven million individuals in Pakistan have diabetes, making it the country in South Asia with the highest prevalence of the condition. It is also one of the major health issues in Pakistan.
Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s capacity to react to the hormone insulin, leading to abnormal carbohydrate metabolism and elevated blood and urine glucose levels.
Untreated elevated glucose levels can harm the body’s blood vessels and other organs. The unhealthy food sector in Pakistan may be to blame for the high diabetes rate. Since its establishment in 1996, The Diabetic Institute of Pakistan (DIP) has worked to combat diabetes.
In addition to pharmacy services for patients, DIP delivers diabetes awareness activities to educate patients and the general public about this condition.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A and E are still widespread illnesses in Pakistan even though vaccinations are available.
It is a viral liver disease spread by polluted water or bad food.
Along with the vaccine, safe drinking water, wholesome food, improved sanitation, and handwashing are all powerful approaches to combat the disease.
Hepatitis E is a liver condition that typically resolves on its own. But it might result in sudden liver failure. The WHO reports that East and South Asia have the highest rates of hepatitis in the globe.
However, the government of Pakistan is reportedly utilizing all available communication avenues to raise public awareness of hepatitis. Additionally, the government gives patients medicine and vaccinations.
HIV/AIDS
According to UNAIDS, around 100,000 HIV + cases exist in Pakistan.
The use of contaminated syringes by drug addicts is the main contributor to this disease in Pakistan.
With more than 50,000 cases, Sindh has the highest rate of HIV infection. Given that the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Pakistan is rising alarmingly quickly each year, the government must act decisively to stop the spread of the illness.
Maternal and Child Health
Maternal health is one of the significant health problems in Pakistan. Women have to fend for themselves since they lack status and many women’s health issues are taboo. A woman’s state of health directly affects the health of her unborn child.
The main contributor to diseases affecting mothers and their newborns is the absence of adequate healthcare facilities in rural and other underdeveloped areas. Neonatal problems account for 16.67% of all deaths, which is a result of this disregard for the baby’s health.
The health of the mother and child is a critical issue that affects rural communities more than cities. Women in rural areas suffer during their pregnancies due to a lack of sufficient diet, education, and care, which hurts the health of newborns.
Babies are frequently born dead or with birth defects ranging from minor to severe. One of Pakistan’s serious health problems that requires immediate attention is maternal and child health.
Health System in Pakistan: What are the Problems in the System?
When we talk about health concerns, we refer to certain health issues that have a detrimental impact on a person’s health, a disease, or the population’s health care problems.
Following are some of the issues about the health system in Pakistan:
Healthcare Infrastructure
The private sector provides services to almost 70% of the Pakistani population. Private hospitals and healthcare facilities often outperform their public counterparts in terms of overall healthcare quality and patient satisfaction.
However, the majority of residents of Pakistan’s rural areas have little to no access to basic medical care and are at significant risk of contracting various illnesses.
Sanitation and Hygiene
The two biggest sanitation issues in Pakistan are inappropriate sanitation and food storage.
Salmonella, E. coli, and other pathogens can enter the human body through contaminated food, which can lead to serious illness.
Pakistan is one of the top ten nations in the world without access to clean drinking water. In rural communities with high levels of poverty, the majority of residents lack access to restrooms. Therefore, additional issues like a bacterial infection or diarrhea may arise as a result of inadequate facilities.
Moreover, many girls are compelled to use unclean menstrual management techniques, such as making their sanitary pads, due to a lack of resources and sanitation services. Vaginal infections, however, can occur if these procedures are used frequently.
Malnutrition
The high rate of infant and maternal fatalities is largely attributed to inadequate nutrition for young children.
Over half of young children under the age of five are stunted, and over 40% of them are underweight. As a result of an inadequate diet, the body’s natural defense mechanisms are also reduced.
Infectious Diseases
Pakistan is at a high risk of epidemics brought on by communicable diseases due to overpopulation, unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, deplorable socioeconomic conditions, low health awareness, and insufficient vaccination coverage.
Pakistan also bears a sizable portion of the regional burden of many communicable diseases.
Environmental Health Hazards
Pakistan is struggling with a lot of issues, including pollution. Numerous illnesses are brought on by environmental disruptions in the nation.
A study found that 92% of all deaths caused by pollution occur in middle-income nations like Pakistan. Major issues include food insecurity, waste management problems, inadequate sanitation, noise pollution, air pollution, climate change, and water pollution.
What are the Possible Solutions for Health Issues in Pakistan?
The government must take strong steps to ensure that Pakistanis have access to high-quality healthcare. Furthermore, each of us must make a small contribution, as collectively, we can have a substantial impact on the public health issues in Pakistan.
Some of the possible solutions are:
- Increase the taxes on tobacco and alcohol.
- Raise healthcare standards. Government must ensure that hospitals have enough resources to serve patients efficiently.
- Global warming is a major cause of public health problems. Increased greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing and disposal of goods contribute to global warming.
- Recycling and reusing our household goods is an additional measure we can take to mitigate health issues in Pakistan.
- Promote vaccinations.
Takeaway!
Pakistan is a country where health spending outpaces economic growth, and the demand for improved health grows by the day. Making the general public aware of how obesity, bad nutrition, and a lack of physical activity contribute to a variety of health problems can considerably improve the situation.
Additionally, public, commercial, and governmental entities must collaborate for the effective administration, protection, and upkeep of the environment and public health.
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