Anaemia crisis costs Pakistan over $3 billion annually

The anaemia crisis, a debilitating condition affecting millions of children, adolescent girls and women in Pakistan, is silently draining the nation's economy, costing over $3 billion in lost productivity and human capital

With annual losses estimated at $2.5 billion for children alone and an additional $595 million for adolescent girls and women, the total economic toll from anaemia exceeds $3 billion, according to Nutrition International's report recent Cost of Inaction (COI) report.

Despite some improvements, anaemia remains a severe public health challenge. Among children aged 6-59 months, 53% suffer from anaemia, with 2.8 million new cases reported annually. Pakistan ranks second in South Asia for child anaemia prevalence and 39th globally.

The condition is equally troubling for women and adolescent girls, with 41.3% affected by anaemia. Pakistan ranks fourth in South Asia and 35th worldwide for anaemia prevalence in this group. Each year, over 23.9 million new cases are reported among adolescent girls and women aged 15-49, including 918,154 cases among pregnant women.

The report highlights multiple factors contributing to anaemia in Pakistan. In children, iron deficiency due to inadequate dietary intake, recurrent infections, and poor maternal nutrition are key causes.

Among adolescent girls and women, inadequate iron intake, frequent pregnancies, and chronic health conditions further exacerbate the condition. Maternal anaemia not only affects women's health but also increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and adverse outcomes for newborns.

Dr Shabina Raza, country director for Nutrition International, emphasised the long-term consequences of anaemia.

"Anaemia is a major public health challenge in Pakistan, particularly among children and women of reproductive age. It affects cognitive development, school achievement, and productivity in adulthood, creating a lasting impact on the nation's economic growth," she said.

The World Health Assembly (WHA) aims to reduce anaemia prevalence by 50% by 2025. However, Pakistan faces formidable challenges in meeting this target. The report underscores that iron deficiency—a leading cause of anaemia—continues to undermine productivity and maternal health outcomes.

"The loss in human capital due to anaemia represents not only a health crisis but also an economic burden that Pakistan cannot afford to ignore. Addressing anaemia through nutrition-focused interventions is crucial to building a healthier, more productive society," said by Ministry of National Health Services.

The economic losses linked to anaemia reflect diminished cognitive function, reduced school achievement, and decreased work output. Iron deficiency anaemia alone poses long-term developmental challenges for children and productivity losses for adults.

While anaemia remains one of the most urgent health challenges, the broader cost of undernutrition is staggering. The report estimates a $17 billion annual economic toll from undernutrition, representing 4.6% of Pakistan's Gross National Income (GNI).

Stunting accounts for the largest share, with an economic impact of $16 billion annually, or 4.2% of GNI. Low birth weight contributes an additional $7.1 billion to the economic burden, creating long-term challenges for human capital development and national growth.