Healthcare on the brink

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The state of public health in Pakistan has reached a crisis of alarming proportions, yet those in power appear either unwilling or incapable of addressing the matter with the urgency it demands. Across the nation, rising maternal and child mortality rates, the resurgence of preventable diseases, and an overburdened healthcare system paint a grim picture of neglect and mismanagement. The consequences of such failures are dire, threatening not only the well-being of millions but also the future prosperity of the country itself.

The return of polio — a disease all but eradicated in most of the civilised world — stands as a stark indictment of the nation's faltering public health policies. Likewise, tuberculosis and hepatitis continue their relentless spread, afflicting vast numbers due to poor disease surveillance and limited access to treatment. Such conditions are unthinkable in nations where preventive healthcare is a priority, yet in Pakistan, they are treated with an alarming degree of indifference.

Beyond infectious diseases, the burden of non-communicable ailments such as heart disease and cancer grows heavier by the day. This is not merely a question of funding, but of priorities. A nation cannot expect to flourish when its people are sick, nor can it sustain economic growth with a workforce plagued by disease.

If Pakistan is to avert a complete collapse of its healthcare system, immediate steps must be taken. The government must urgently increase public health spending to at least 5% of GDP, ensuring that essential medical services are available to all. A national health insurance programme must be introduced to protect low-income families from financial ruin due to medical emergencies.

Moreover, stronger regulatory oversight is required to prevent pharmaceutical companies from unchecked price hikes, making life-saving medicines affordable.The country must shift its focus from reactive treatment to preventive healthcare if it is to protect its citizens.