University of Gujrat, Sub-Campus

Narowal
Submitted To:
Sir Taufeeq

National and International Affairs

Submitted By:
Attroba Adan (01)
Saira Ayub

(28)

Department:
Mass Communication and Media
Semester:
Bs-McM (3)

Date: 22-02-2016

Health Issues in Pakistan

National and International Affairs

Health Issue in Pakistan

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence
of disease or illness." According to World Health Organizations Definition.

Health Condition in Pakistan:

Ongoing political crisis, war on terror and poor economic conditions has placed Pakistan
in a financial difficulty. Finance is the most essential part of any country. Its been more than a
decade that Pakistan is facing poor financial conditions due low foreign investment, high budget
deficit and low GDP growth. In order to cover the expenses in budget, cuts have to be made in
other sectors and unfortunately, in Pakistan, these sectors are mostly be education and health.
In 2015, only 102.3 billion have been invested out of 3.945 trillion by the government on
improvement of health sector. Following statistics have been drawn from Pakistan Economic
Survey 2014-2015.

Total number of hospitals in the country equal to 1096. This means with a population
of 182.1 million (World Bank, 2013), about 1.7 million people are dependent upon on

a single hospital.
The number of doctors till the year 2015 totaled 167,759. The population and health

facilities ratio is around 1,099 persons per doctor.

Per hospital bed, the ratio of patience is about 1,647 which is worse than last year
ratio of 1,617.

Pakistan is spending 2 % of its GDP on health which is very low as health is very vital for the
human life. Health problems have increased dramatically in Pakistan with the passage of time.
With the increase in poverty the health of the people has also decreased. In Pakistan more than
35% of children under five years of age are short their age, over 10% are under weight for their
height, over half are anemic and about 40% of women of childbearing age are anemic.
Underweight is not the only problem, overweight is also a problem as 10% adults are overweight
or obese.

Pakistan is the only country where the daily dietary consumption has decreased from 24% in
1992 to 23% in 2003 and 7 million people became victims of malnutrition whereas some SubSaharan country which have less GDP per capita than half of Pakistan have managed to decrease
people suffering from malnutrition.
As many as 54 million Pakistanis out of a population of 165 million do not have access to safe
drinking water and 76 million lack access to sanitation. Pakistan is using 97% of its surface
water resources and mining its groundwater to support one of the lowest productivities in the
world per unit of water and per unit of land. Very little effort has been made to make the water
clean and the majority of the people suffering with this problem is the people below the poverty
line. Dirty water leads to some serious diseases. Access to safe water is a fight against poverty,
hunger and child mortality.

Major Diseases in Pakistan:

Pakistan is suffering with both the infectious and the non-communicable diseases.
Pakistan needs urgently some policies to prevent from these dangerous diseases which will lead
to reduce disability caused by them. Infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis,
malaria, polio, and several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are easily spread through personal
contact, water, and air, (many NTDs are vector borne transmitted by mosquitoes, flies, etc.) and
are a particularly significant problem in developing countries. In the past, infectious diseases
have been widespread in Pakistan and chronic diseases were found primarily in high income
countries. However, the global pattern of disease burden is shifting. While infectious disease still
remains a major problem in many countries, chronic diseases, including such non communicable
conditions as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory disease, are now the major
cause of death and disability. Efforts should be made for both infectious and non-communicable
diseases as infectious play important role in the development of some non-communicable
diseases.
Some of the diseases are explained below:
Chronic disease is also a burden to many Pakistanis. Every one person out of three is
affected by hypertension who is over 45 years of age. One in ten persons aged 60 years are
affected by diabetes. 20% of people above 60 years age have high cholesterol levels.

Chronic bronchitis affects one in ten rural women over 65. Obesity, inappropriate diet, lack
of exercise are important factors to which health policy must turn in Pakistan. The
majority of chronic diseases are not curable. So prevention is possible. For others
destruction may be delayed and with proper care suffering may reduce and the
development of disease slowed so that disability is reduced.
Pakistan health facilities are inadequate, inefficient and expensive. The poor in Pakistan is
lacking access to basic health care services. The rural urban inequality can easily be seen as the
rural areas are more disadvantaged regions. According to the WHO international standards,
the ratio of doctors to nurses should be 1:3; however this is reversed in the case of Pakistan,
i.e., ratio of doctors to nurses is 3:1 in Pakistan. Health is the neglected sector in Pakistan
and there is a need if reformulation of health policies to benefit the disadvantaged groups more
and to improve the access of poor people to medical services. The government should invest in
medical and nursing colleges to overcome the low staff problem. To improve the health
conditions, medical syllabus should be reformulated to guide medical students about the current,
major and present diseases of Pakistan.

Ministry of Health:
After devolution of the Ministry of Health by the Federal Government to the provinces under the
18th Amendment, on June 30, 2011, health institutions were placed under the jurisdiction of the
following government divisions:
1. Cabinet Division
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

National Institute of Health

Health Services Academy
Tobacco Control Program
Federal Medical and Dental College
Federal General Hospital
Pakistan Medical Research Council

2. Capital Administration and Development

a) Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
b) Federal Polyclinic Hospital
In addition, the Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Unit was established to tackle growing
challenges of diseases like diabetes, heart ailments, mental health and cancers in the country.

The Communicable Disease Unit for existing (HIV, Malaria, TB) and emerging threats (Ebola,
Congo fever, others) was made functional and aligned with national and international activities,
the role of the Unit primarily being that of coordination and centralizing data.
Steps taken by the Ministry of Health to control diseases:
Healthcare Programs:
Health care programs are designed to enhance the quality of life and facilitate the citizens to
meet their health care needs. These programs also educate physicians and other health
professionals. Under the health care programs ground breaking researches are controlled on the
health crisis.
Some initiated programs are listed below:

National Maternal and Child Health Program

National Program For Family Planning & Primary Health Care

Nutrition Program

Field Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division:

Field Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division was established in 2014 which was nonexistent earlier. The unit will take a lead in disease surveillance and provide technical support to
provinces. The five provincial rapid response units established for coordination are already
showing improvement in data quality.
National Blood Policy 2014-20:
New National Blood Policy 2014-20 has been formulated in consultation with Provinces and
Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority. The body has been reactivated to ensure availability of
safe blood, free of infections.
Immunization:
A Comprehensive Multi-Year Plan, 2014-18 for immunization was developed in consultation
with all Provinces. Robust Anti-Measles campaign was completed across the country targeting
62.4 Million children from 6 months to 10 years of age. Web based Vaccine Management system

has been introduced. Free Pneumococcal vaccine has been provided for the first time across the
country to protect 6 Million children against Pneumonia.
Vaccine Security and Management:
Over 86% increase in production of anti-venom sera (e.g. anti-snake and rabies) by the NIH was
achieved through better management practices. Wastage of the polio vaccine reduced from 15 to
11 % through introduction of vaccine and logistics management system.

Polio Eradication:
Under the Cabinet Committee on Immunization with Minister for Interior, Minister for Defense
and Minister for NHSR&C, a new threat perception system has been put in place which links up
with district polio planning process. These efforts have resulted in improving the coverage of the
campaign especially in FATA agencies and 11 KPK districts.
National Programs (Malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS):
The national programs were revived in the Ministry to ensure effective coordination role among
provinces. In this regard, National & Provincial Strategic Plans for T.B. control have been
developed. By 75% increase in early diagnosis and prompt treatment in Malaria Diagnostic and
Treatment Centers, reduction in deaths caused by malaria has been achieved.
Future plans of Health Ministry in Pakistan:
The Ministry has focused on Legislation and Policy framework establishment:
Legislation for Federal Health Regulatory Authority is in final stage which will ensure

quality of health service delivery in federal territories.

New Legislative bills on HIV AIDS, Immunization and Health Insurance are under

process at various stages.

Necessary amendments pending since long in Pakistan Medical and Dental Council,

Pharmacy, Health Research Council acts are now in final stages.

National mentorship program from evidence to policy, has been initiated by NHSRC with
Global Alliance for Policy Research and WHO, to train young professionals in the area of
health policy development.

 Targets:
1. Establishment of Public Health and Nursing University in public sector offering higher
degrees in related disciplines.
2. Establishment of Cancer Hospital in Islamabad Budget allocated as part of PSDP.
3. Indigenous production of vaccines to meet national requirement; initiation of Public
Private Partnership through EOI to be floated internationally (Government to
Government).
4. Mentorship program for young professionals in Ministry of NHSR&C.
5. Campaign for improving Blood quality in Federal Territory.
6. Campaign for improving food quality in Federal Capital Territory.

Achievements:

1. Pakistans Representation at the International Health Forums has been commendable.

Pakistan has won the bid to host next Regional Conference of WHO, an honor which will
be coming to Pakistan after almost 20 years due to efforts of the Ministry at regional
level.
2. Pakistan has won a place in the GAVI Board after 6 years; this will allow the country to
have a voice at highest international forum meant for vaccine and immunization funding.
3. In addition Pakistani delegations participated actively and effectively in international
health forums like World Health Assembly, Regional meetings, IHR committees and
bilateral forums.

References:

http://nhsrc.gov.pk/messageDetail.php?message_id=4
http://health.punjab.gov.pk/HCP
http://iriscommunications.com.pk/blog/health-conditions-in-pakistan/
http://www.indexmundi.com/pakistan/major_infectious_diseases.html
https://www.scribd.com/doc/32863543/Health-Issues-in-Pakistan-and-Government-sRole#scribd