Health is widely regarded as the cornerstone of human development, yet Pakistan continues to grapple with a chronic healthcare crisis that undermines both its social progress and economic potential. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025–26, the country’s health sector remains in a state of persistent neglect, with key indicators painting a deeply concerning picture.
Pakistan’s life expectancy at birth stands at 67.8 years, significantly below the South Asian average of 72.6 years. Maternal mortality remains alarmingly high at 155 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with the regional average of 120, while the infant mortality rate is more than twice the South Asian average. Undernutrition and stunting continue to affect millions of children, impairing their physical growth, cognitive development, and future productivity. These challenges are further compounded by Pakistan’s comparatively high population growth and birth rate, placing additional pressure on an already fragile healthcare system.
Limited public investment, inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and stark disparities in access to medical services have combined to create a healthcare system that struggles to meet the needs of its citizens. Pakistan’s health sector presents a striking paradox. The country has produced highly skilled doctors, surgeons, and medical specialists who are respected worldwide, yet millions of Pakistanis continue to lack access to even the most basic healthcare services. Consequently, overcrowded hospitals, preventable diseases, delayed treatment, and poor health outcomes have become defining features of the national healthcare landscape.
One of the most glaring weaknesses of Pakistan’s healthcare system is the persistently low level of public expenditure on health. The country spends only around one to one-and-a-half percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare, far below the level recommended by international health organizations. In contrast, neighbouring countries allocate a considerably larger share of their national resources to public health. India spends a higher proportion of its GDP on healthcare, while Sri Lanka has achieved significantly better health outcomes despite having a smaller economy and fewer financial resources. These comparisons illustrate that effective healthcare is not solely dependent on economic size but also on policy priorities and efficient governance.
Successive governments have repeatedly pledged comprehensive healthcare reforms, yet public spending has remained insufficient to meet the growing demands of a rapidly expanding population. Primary healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas, continue to suffer from inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, shortages of medicines, outdated equipment, and insufficient staffing. Many Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs) operate without essential diagnostic facilities, reducing their effectiveness in addressing common health problems.
Pakistan’s doctor-to-patient ratio is another clear indicator of the challenges confronting the sector. Although thousands of doctors graduate annually from medical colleges across the country, the healthcare workforce remains inadequate relative to Pakistan’s population of more than 250 million. The migration of qualified doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to wealthier countries in search of better salaries, improved working conditions, and greater career opportunities has further deepened the shortage. Rural and underdeveloped districts are particularly affected, with many communities facing severe shortages of physicians, specialists, nurses, and trained paramedics. While major urban centres possess advanced hospitals and specialized healthcare institutions, remote regions often rely on basic clinics that lack medicines, modern equipment, and qualified personnel.
Maternal health remains one of Pakistan’s most pressing public health concerns. Hundreds of women continue to lose their lives each year due to complications arising during pregnancy and childbirth. Most of these deaths are preventable through timely medical intervention, skilled birth attendants, improved prenatal care, emergency obstetric services, and better postnatal care. Women living in rural and underserved areas face even greater challenges because of long distances to healthcare facilities, poverty, inadequate transportation, and limited awareness regarding maternal healthcare services.
Child mortality presents another equally alarming challenge. Pakistan continues to record one of the highest infant and under-five mortality rates in South Asia. Thousands of children die every year from preventable illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malnutrition, and vaccine-preventable diseases. Inadequate immunization coverage, poor sanitation, unsafe drinking water, food insecurity, and widespread poverty all contribute significantly to these tragic outcomes. Improving child health requires not only stronger healthcare services but also better nutrition, education, and sanitation policies.
Malnutrition remains a silent national emergency affecting millions of children and women. Stunting rates are among the highest in South Asia, reflecting longstanding deficiencies in maternal nutrition, food security, healthcare access, and early childhood care. Children suffering from chronic malnutrition often experience irreversible physical and cognitive impairment, limiting their educational achievements and reducing their future economic productivity. Addressing malnutrition must therefore become a national priority involving coordinated efforts across the health, agriculture, education, and social protection sectors.
Communicable diseases continue to impose a heavy burden on Pakistan’s healthcare system. The country remains among the few nations where polio transmission has yet to be fully eradicated. Hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, dengue fever, malaria, typhoid, and other infectious diseases continue to pose serious public health threats. Frequent outbreaks place enormous pressure on already overstretched hospitals and healthcare workers, highlighting the urgent need for stronger disease surveillance, preventive measures, and expanded vaccination programmes.
Improving Pakistan’s health profile requires a comprehensive, long-term, and sustained national strategy. Increasing healthcare expenditure must be the foremost priority. Greater public investment in health should be viewed not merely as government spending but as a strategic investment in human capital, economic productivity, and national development. Healthier populations contribute more effectively to economic growth, educational attainment, labour productivity, and overall social stability.
Strengthening primary healthcare services is equally essential. Basic Health Units and Rural Health Centres should be modernized, adequately staffed, properly equipped, and supplied with essential medicines. Expanding community-based healthcare programmes can significantly improve disease prevention, maternal and child healthcare, nutrition, and immunization coverage while reducing pressure on tertiary care hospitals.
Pakistan must also adopt policies aimed at retaining qualified healthcare professionals. Better salaries, improved working conditions, opportunities for professional development, modern healthcare infrastructure, and merit-based career progression can help reduce the brain drain that has weakened the country’s healthcare system for decades. Investing in nursing education, paramedical training, and allied health sciences is equally important to strengthen the overall healthcare workforce.
Preventive healthcare deserves far greater attention than it currently receives. Public awareness campaigns promoting hygiene, balanced nutrition, vaccination, regular physical activity, mental health awareness, and early disease detection can substantially reduce the burden of illness. Expanded access to clean drinking water, improved sanitation, effective waste management, and stronger environmental health policies would further enhance public health outcomes and reduce the incidence of communicable diseases.
Digital technologies also offer significant opportunities to bridge healthcare disparities. Telemedicine services can connect specialists based in urban hospitals with patients living in remote and underserved communities, reducing inequalities in access to expert medical advice. Electronic health records, digital disease surveillance systems, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics, and mobile health applications can further improve efficiency, transparency, and patient care throughout the healthcare system.
Healthcare governance also requires comprehensive reform. Greater transparency, accountability, and efficient resource management are essential to ensure that public funds are utilized effectively and reach their intended beneficiaries. Strong regulatory oversight, improved procurement systems, and evidence-based policymaking can significantly enhance service delivery. Partnerships with the private sector, non-governmental organizations, international development partners, and academic institutions can further strengthen healthcare infrastructure, research, and service delivery.
Pakistan possesses the human talent, institutional capacity, and professional expertise required to transform its healthcare system. What has been lacking is sustained political commitment, policy continuity, and adequate public investment. A nation’s true strength is ultimately measured by the health and well-being of its people. Improving maternal and child health, reducing preventable diseases, increasing life expectancy, expanding healthcare access, and ensuring equitable medical services for all citizens must become national priorities.
The path forward is both clear and achievable: greater investment, stronger governance, modern healthcare infrastructure, a skilled and motivated workforce, preventive healthcare, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the health and dignity of every citizen. Only through sustained reforms and long-term political commitment can Pakistan build a healthier, more productive, and more prosperous future for generations to come.