ISLAMABAD: Pakistan continues to allocate less than 1% of its GDP to healthcare, as revealed in the Economic Survey 2024-25 released on Monday. Despite rising population demands, the sector remains severely underfunded, with only Rs. 925 billion allocated in the current fiscal year.
The report highlights a dire doctor-to-patient ratio, with just one doctor for every 750,000 people. However, there has been some progress, with the number of registered doctors increasing by over 20,000 in the past year, bringing the total to 319,000.
Other healthcare professionals have also seen growth—dentists now number 39,088, nursing staff stands at 138,000, and there are 46,801 midwives and 29,000 lady health workers supporting the system.
Infrastructure-wise, Pakistan has 1,696 hospitals and 5,434 Basic Health Units (BHUs) across the country. However, child mortality remains high, with 50 deaths per 1,000 infants annually. On a positive note, life expectancy has risen to 67.5 years.
The findings underscore the urgent need for policy reforms and greater investment to strengthen Pakistan’s healthcare system, improve accessibility, and enhance public health outcomes.
