Healthcare for all

The revival of the Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital in Islamabad under a public-private partnership is a welcome development, particularly at a time when affordable medical treatment remains beyond the reach of millions of Pakistanis. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's announcement that the government will bear the entire cost of treatment at the 182-bed facility, to be managed by the Indus Hospital and Health Network, offers a much-needed example of how public resources can be utilised for the welfare of ordinary citizens. Yet, while such partnerships deserve appreciation, they also expose the sorry state of Pakistan's healthcare system, which remains in complete disarray.

The reality is that healthcare in Pakistan has increasingly become a privilege rather than a fundamental right. Public hospitals are overwhelmed by patients, understaffed and frequently deprived of essential medicines and functioning equipment. Those who cannot secure timely treatment at government facilities are left at the mercy of private hospitals, where treatment can cost more than an ordinary household earns in several months. For countless families, a serious illness means exhausting their savings or selling whatever assets they possess. Many are compelled to delay treatment until their condition becomes critical, while others simply surrender to illnesses that could have been treated had they possessed the financial means.

The government's partnership with the Indus Hospital and Health Network demonstrates that quality treatment can be provided without charging patients. However, the provision of free healthcare cannot remain confined to a handful of institutions or depend indefinitely on charitable organisations and private management. It must become the guiding principle of national health policy. No individual should be denied treatment because of an inability to pay, nor should a family's financial circumstances determine whether a patient lives or dies.