Health System in Pakistan

It is health that is real wealth and not the pieces of gold and silver.
Healthcare in Pakistan is administered mainly in the private sector which accounts for
approximately 80% of all OPDs (outdoor patient department). The provincial and district health
departments, social security institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private
sector finance and provide services mostly through vertically managed disease-specific
mechanisms.

Health facilities:
 Registered doctors.
There are 175223 registered doctors in Pakistan. Many Pakistani doctors and
medical professionals choose to migrate to other countries, contributing to a brain drain and
chronic skills shortage in the country.
In the United States alone, there are over 17,000 doctors of Pakistani origin. Pakistan is the
fourth highest source of International medical graduate doctors in the U.S as well as the fourth
highest source of foreign dentists licensed in the United States. It’s a good sign though.

 Dentistry.
At present there are upwards of 70 dental schools (public and private) throughout
Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council the state regulatory body has
upwards of 11500 registered dentists.

 Institutes.
As of 2007, there were 48 medical colleges and 21 dental colleges in the country.

 Lady health workers.

Presently, 96,000 women are serving as in this initiative in their home villages.

 Nursing
Nursing is a major component of health care in Pakistan. In 2009, Pakistan’s
government stated its intent to improve the country's nursing care.

Major health problems:

 Cancer.
Cancer information on Pakistan Approximately one in every 9 Pakistani women is
likely to suffer from breast cancer which is one of the highest incidence rates in Asia. For its
cure, major cancer centers in Pakistan include:
  Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital
 Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi
 National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) in Karachi.
Also many research Centers in Lahore and Peshawar are working against diseases.

 Malnutrition.
It is one of the most significant public health problems in Pakistan, and especially
among children. At the “national level almost 40% of these children are underweight and women
are also at risk, with about half suffering from anemia, which is commonly caused by iron
deficiency. A significant contributing factor to this issue is food insecurity. The World Food
Program estimates that nearly one in two Pakistanis are at risk of food insecurity and the other
serious issues are contamination of water results in diarrhea, dysentery etc.
 Smoking.

Total Health Facilities 13,937 103,708 beds

Hospitals 968 84,257 beds

Nurses 69313
Health visitors 10731

Registered vets 4800

Doctors 139555

Dentists 9822

Although health system in different cities of Pakistan has totally destroyed specially in rural
areas but government of pakistan is committed to the goal of making its population healthier, as
evidenced by Social Action Program (SAP) and the new vision for health, nutrition, and
population control in both for rural and urban areas.