Healthcare in Pakistan: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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[[File:US Navy 051013-N-8796S-208 Pakistani doctors operate on an injured woman at one of the only hospitals left operational in the city of Muzafarabad, Pakistan.jpg|thumb|Pakistani doctors operate on an injured woman in Muzafarabad in 2005]]

[[File:Healthcare Delivery System of Pakistan.png|thumb|Healthcare Delivery System of Pakistan <ref name=":10">{{Cite journal|last1=Javed|first1=Saad Ahmed|last2=Liu|first2=Sifeng|date=2018-10-08|title=Evaluation of outpatient satisfaction and service quality of Pakistan's healthcare projects|journal=Grey Systems: Theory and Application|language=en|volume=8|issue=4|pages=462–480|doi=10.1108/gs-04-2018-0018|s2cid=52931739 |issn=2043-9377}}</ref><ref name=":11" />]]

The [[Health care|healthcare]] delivery system of [[Pakistan]] is complex because it includes healthcare subsystems by [[Federal government of Pakistan|federal governments]] and [[List of provincial governments of Pakistan|provincial governments]] competing with formal and informal [[private sector]] [[healthcare systems]].<ref name=":53">{{Cite journal|last=Kurji|first=Zohra|date=2016|title=Analysis of the Health Care System of Pakistan: Lessons Learnt and Way Forward|journal=Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad|volume=28|issue=3|pages=601–604|pmid=28712245}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite journal|last1=Javed|first1=Saad Ahmed|last2=Liu|first2=Sifeng|last3=Mahmoudi|first3=Amin|last4=Nawaz|first4=Muhammad|date=2018-08-30|title=Patients' satisfaction and public and private sectors' health care service quality in Pakistan: Application of grey decision analysis approaches|journal=The International Journal of Health Planning and Management|volume=34|issue=1|pages=e168–e182|language=en|doi=10.1002/hpm.2629|issn=0749-6753|pmid=30160783|doi-access=free}}</ref> Healthcare is delivered mainly through vertically managed disease-specific mechanisms. The different institutions that are responsible for this include: provincial and district health departments, [[Parastatal|parastatal organizations]], [[Social security|social security institutions]], [[Non-governmental organization|non-governmental organizations (NGOs)]] and private sector.<ref name=":23">{{Cite journal |last=Akbari|first=Ather|date=Summer 2009|title=Demand for Public Health Care in Pakistan.|journal=The Pakistan Development Review|volume=48 |issue=2|pages=141–153|doi=10.30541/v48i2pp.141-153|doi-access=free|jstor=41260917}}</ref> The country's health sector is also marked by urban-rural disparities in healthcare delivery and an imbalance in the health workforce, with insufficient health managers, nurses, paramedics and skilled birth attendants in the peripheral areas.<ref name=":123">{{Cite journal|last=Akram|first=Muhammad|date=2007|title=Health Care Services and Government Spending in Pakistan|journal=Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Islamabad|pages=1–25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_pak_en.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213111536/http://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_pak_en.pdf~~|url-status=dead~~|archive-date=December 13, 2007|title=WHO Country Cooperation Strategies and Briefs}}</ref> Pakistan's [[gross national income]] per capita in 2021 was $41,~~990~~506 ~~and~~USD.<ref>{{Cite ~~the~~web ~~total~~|title=GDP ~~expenditure~~|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=PK}}</ref> onIn the health budget, the total expenditure per capita on health in 2021 was Rsonly ~~657~~28.23 ~~Billion~~billion, constituting 1.4% of the country's [[Gross domestic product|GDP]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/countries/pak/en/|title=WHO {{!}} Pakistan|website=WHO|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> The health care delivery system in Pakistan consists of public and private sectors. Under the constitution, health is primarily responsibility of the provincial government, except in the federally administered areas. Health care delivery has traditionally been jointly administered by the federal and provincial governments with districts mainly responsible for implementation. Service delivery is being organized through preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services. The curative and rehabilitative services are being provided mainly at the secondary and tertiary care facilities. Preventive and promotive services, on the other hand, are mainly provided through various national programs; and community health workers’ interfacing with the communities through primary healthcare facilities and outreach activities.

The state provides healthcare through a three-tiered healthcare delivery system and a range of public health interventions.

Some government/ semi government organizations like the armed forces, Sui Gas, WAPDA, Railways, Fauji Foundation, Employees Social Security Institution and NUST provide health service to their employees and their dependants through their own system, however, these collectively cover about 10% of the population.

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Despite the increase in public health facilities, Pakistan's [[population growth]] has generated an unmet need for healthcare.<ref name=":63">{{Cite journal|last=Shaikh|first=Babar|date=2015|title=Private Sector in Health Care Delivery: A Reality and Challenge in Pakistan|journal=J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad|volume=27|issue=2|pages=496–498|pmid=26411151}}</ref> Public healthcare institutions that address critical health issues are often only located in major towns and cities. Due to the absence of these institutions and the cost associated with transportation, impoverished people living in rural and remote areas tend to consult private doctors.<ref name=":123" /> Studies have shown that Pakistan's private sector healthcare system is outperforming the public sector healthcare system in terms of service quality and patient satisfaction, with 70% of the population being served by the private health sector.<ref name=":23" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pakistan's healthcare system {{!}} Pakistan Today|url=https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/01/08/pakistans-healthcare-system/|access-date=2021-06-17|website=archive.pakistantoday.com.pk}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The private health sector operates through a fee-for-service system of unregulated hospitals, medical practitioners, [[homeopathic doctor]]s, [[Hakim (title)|hakeems]], and other [[spiritual healers]].<ref name=":63" /> In urban areas, some public-private partnerships exist for franchising private sector outlets and contributing to overall service delivery.<ref name=":73">{{Cite journal|last=Shaikh|first=Babar|date=2005|title=Health Seeking Behaviour and Health Service Utilization in Pakistan: Challenging the Policy Makers.|journal=Journal of Public Health|volume=27|pages=49–54|doi=10.1093/pubmed/fdh207|pmid=15590705|doi-access=free}}</ref> Very few mechanisms exist to regulate the quality, standards, protocols, ethics, or prices within the private health sector, that results in disparities in health services.<ref name=":63" />

Even though nurses play a key role in any country's health care field, Pakistan has only ~~121~~105,~~245~~950 nurses to service a population of ~~229~~241.49 million people,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan Population |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/Press%20Release.pdf}}</ref> leaving a shortfall of nurses as per [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) estimates.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-23|title=Pakistan needs 'a million more nurses'|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2039989/pakistan-needs-million-nurses|access-date=2021-05-04|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}</ref> As per the Economic Survey of Pakistan (2020–21), the country is spending 1.2% of the GDP on healthcare <ref>{{Cite web|title=Health expenditure: 1.2pc of GDP against WHO-recommended 5pc|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/847694-health-expenditure-1-2pc-of-gdp-against-who-recommended-5pc|access-date=2021-06-17|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}</ref> which is less than the healthcare expenditure recommended by WHO i.e. 5% of GDP.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2003|title=How Much Should Countries Spend on Health?|url=https://www.who.int/health_financing/en/how_much_should_dp_03_2.pdf|website=World Health Organization}}</ref>

==Cancer care==

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Cancer information on Pakistan <ref>[http://jpma.org.pk/ViewArticle/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=629] Cancer in Pakistan</ref> Approximately one in every 9 [[Pakistani women]] is likely to suffer from breast cancer which is one of the highest incidence rates in Asia.<ref>College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan Journal, Editorial 2007 http://www.cpsp.edu.pk/jcpsp/ARCHIEVE/JCPSP-2007/dec07/Editorial1.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306162431/http://cpsp.edu.pk/jcpsp/archieve/jcpsp-2007/dec07/editorial1.pdf |date=2016-03-06 }}</ref>

Major cancer centers in Pakistan include the [[Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre|Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center]] in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar, [[Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi|Aga Khan University Hospital]] in Karachi and the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) in Karachi. Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, Gujranwala, Multan, Quetta and Faisalabad.

==Obesity==

Obesity in Pakistan is a health issue that has effected concern only in the past few years. [[Urbanisation in Pakistan|Urbanisation]] and an unhealthy, energy-dense diet (the high presence of oil and fats in [[Pakistani cooking]]), as well as changing lifestyles, are among the root causes contributing to [[obesity]] in the country. According to a list of the world's "fattest countries" published on ''[[Forbes]]'', [[Pakistan]] is ranked ~~165~~99 <ref>{{Cite web |title=World Obesity |url=http://www.worldobesity.org/rankings/}}</ref>(out of 194 countries) in terms of its overweight population, with 22.2% of individuals over the age of 15 crossing the threshold of obesity. This ratio roughly corresponds with other studies, which state one-in-four Pakistani adults as being overweight. According to the research paper published on [[PubMed]], in Pakistan, 25% of people are either obese or overweight.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Asif|first1=Muhammad|last2=Aslam|first2=Muhammad|last3=Altaf|first3=Saima|last4=Atif|first4=Saima|last5=Majid|first5=Abdul|date=2020-03-30|title=Prevalence and Sociodemographic Factors of Overweight and Obesity among Pakistani Adults|journal=Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome|volume=29|issue=1|pages=58–66|doi=10.7570/jomes19039|issn=2508-7576|pmc=7118000|pmid=32045513}}</ref> Moreover, according to the 2016 stats by WHO, 3.3% of males and 6.4% of females in Pakistan are suffering from obesity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016|title=World Health Organization – Diabetes country profiles|url=https://www.who.int/diabetes/country-profiles/pak_en.pdf|website=World Health Organization}}</ref>

Research indicates that people living in large cities in Pakistan are more exposed to the risks of obesity as compared to those in the rural countryside. Women also naturally have higher rates of obesity as compared to men. Pakistan also has the highest percentage of people with [[diabetes]] in [[South Asia]].

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==Malnutrition==

[[Malnutrition]] is one of the most significant public health problems in Pakistan, and especially among [[Children and adolescents in Pakistan|children]]. According to [[UNICEF]], about half of children are chronically malnourished.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.unicef.org/health/pakistan_91810.html|title=Fighting malnutrition in Pakistan with a helping hand from children abroad|work=UNICEF|access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref> National surveys show that for almost three decades, the rates of [[Stunted growth|stunting]] and acute undernutrition in children under five years of age have remained stagnant, at 45 percent and 16 percent, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/countries/asia/pakistan|title=Pakistan {{!}} Hunger Relief in Asia {{!}} Action Against Hunger|website=actionagainsthunger.org|access-date=2018-03-14|date=2011-07-07}}</ref> Additionally, at the “national level almost 40% of these children are underweight...and about 9% [are affected] by [[wasting]]”, diseases where muscle and fat tissues degenerate as a result of malnutrition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/nutrition/pak_en.stm|title=Nutrition country profiles: Pakistan summary|website=fao.org|access-date=2018-03-14|archive-date=2020-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409232737/http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/nutrition/pak_en.stm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Similarly, ~~women~~approximately ~~are~~42 ~~also~~% atof ~~risk,~~women ~~with~~in ~~about~~Pakistan ~~half~~in ~~suffering~~reproductive age are ~~from~~ [[anemia]] as per National Nutritional Survey-2018,<ref>{{Cite news |title=UNICEF. "Pakistan national nutrition survey 2018: key findings report." UNICEF: Islamabad, Pakistan (2018).}}</ref> with a slightly higher percentage in villages than in urban areas. ~~which~~Anemia is commonly caused by iron deficiency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/29240-malnutrition-in-%20pakistan-severest-in-region-report|title=Malnutrition in Pakistan severest in region: report|website=thenews.com.pk|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref>

A significant contributing factor to this issue is food insecurity; The [[World Food Programme]] estimates that nearly one in two Pakistanis are at risk of food insecurity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wfp.org/stories/pakistan-8-hunger-facts|title=UN World Food Programme|access-date=2018-03-14|archive-date=2020-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409232724/http://www.wfp.org/stories/pakistan-8-hunger-facts|url-status=dead}}</ref> This in turn can be attributed in part to the rapid [[Urbanisation in Pakistan|urbanisation]] and mass migrations caused by the Great [[Partition of India]] and Pakistan, and the [[Urbanisation in Pakistan|resulting issues]] with infrastructure and government, as well as other factors.

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=== Introduction ===

[[Mental health]] is mostly neglected in Pakistan, where 10- 16% of the population, more than 14 million, suffers from mild to moderate [[psychological or psychiatric illness]]. The figures probably do not include a large number of people who have never seen a [[psychologist]] and who strongly deny the need for psychologist consultation due to social stigma in Pakistan, such people referring to the religious spiritual leaders.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Bashir|first=Aliya|date=June 1, 2018|title=The state of mental health care in Pakistan~~|url=https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(18)30191-3/fulltext~~|journal=The Lancet. Psychologist|volume= 5| issue = 6|pages=471|doi=10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30191-3|pmid=29857845|s2cid=46921627 |url=https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(18)30191-3/fulltext}}</ref>

=== Legislation and Policy ===

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The allocated mental health budget is 0.4% of total health care expenditures.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Muhammad Gadit|first=Amin A.|title=Is there a visible mental health policy in Pakistan?|url=http://www.jpma.org.pk/full_article_text.php?article_id=1079|journal=Journal of Pakistan Medical Association}}</ref> Estimated mental health spending per capita is (US$) $0.01.<ref name=":5" /> There are only 5 mental hospitals in Pakistan.<ref name=":5" />

Number of  Mental health outpatient facility 4,356 and  number of mental health day-treatment facility is 14.<ref name=":5" /> There are 18 NGOs in the country involved in individual assistance activities such as counselling, housing or support groups.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|title=Routledge Handbook of Psychiatry in Asia}}</ref> The total number of human resources working in mental health facilities or private practices per 100,000 people is 87.023, among which 342 are psychiatrists, meaning that there is roughly one psychiatrist available per 500,000 people. Of these, 45% work for government-run mental health facilities and 51% work with non-governmental organisations and other private institutions, while 4% work in both sectors.<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{Cite news|title=50 million people with mental disorders in Pakistan'|date=9 October 2016 |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/156099-50-million-people-with-mental-disorders-in-Pakistan~~|title=50 million people with mental disorders in Pakistan'|date=9 October 2016~~}}</ref~~><ref name=":2" /~~><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mental_health/pakistan_who_aims_report.pdf|title=WHO Report on mental health system in Pakistan}}</ref>

=== Disease Burden of Mental Health ===

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[[Major depressive disorder|Depression]] often starts at a young age and affects women more commonly than men.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/women-and-depression|title=Women and depression|website=Harvard Health|access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref> One or two mothers out of 10 have depression after childbirth. Depression also limits a mother's capacity to care for her child, and can seriously affect the child's growth and development. A study showed that exposure to maternal mental distress is associated with [[malnutrition]] in 9‐month infants in urban Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rahman|first=A.|date=15 December 2003|title=Mothers' mental health and infant growth: a case control study from Rawalpindi, Pakistan|journal= Child: Care, Health and Development|volume=30 |issue=1|pages=21–27|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2214.2004.00382.x|pmid=14678308}}</ref>

Pakistan is one of those countries where the mental health of children is not taken seriously by parents. As per recent stats published by one news website, almost 36% of people in Pakistan are suffering from anxiety and depression.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Disturbing facts about mental health in Pakistan {{!}} Political Economy {{!}} thenews.com.pk|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/614383-dispelling-myths-about-mental-health|access-date=2020-11-11|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}</ref> The major reason for these mental illnesses is bad relationship with friends & family. Moreover, due to the recent pandemic, poverty and unemployment also increases the depression, anxiety, and suicide rate.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mamun|first1=Mohammed A.|last2=Ullah|first2=Irfan|year=2020|title=COVID-19 suicides in Pakistan, dying off not COVID-19 fear but poverty? – The forthcoming economic challenges for a developing country|journal=Brain, Behavior, and Immunity|volume=87|pages=163–166|doi=10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.028|issn=0889-1591|pmc=7212955|pmid=32407859}}</ref>

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According to [[United Nations|United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)]] technical summary report 2012 on drug use in Pakistan, annual prevalence is estimated to be 5.8 per cent, or 6.45 million of the population in Pakistan aged between 15 and 64 used drugs in 2012. [[Cannabis]] is the most commonly used drug with an annual prevalence of 3.6 per cent or approximately four million people. Cannabis is followed by sedatives and [[Tranquilizer|tranquillisers]], such as [[Benzodiazepine use disorder|benzodiazepines]], [[heroin]], [[opium]] and other opiates.<ref name=":6" />

[[File:Mental Health Awareness Ribbon.jpg|thumb|184x184px|''Mental health Awareness'']]▼

=== Challenges and Necessary Actions ===

▲[[File:Mental Health Awareness Ribbon.jpg|thumb|~~184x184px~~upright=0.6|''Mental health Awareness'']]

The stigma against mental illness is rampant in Pakistan. It is sustained by a popular belief in spiritual cures — exorcising evil spirits, experimenting with herbal cures — and a lack of awareness about mental illness's causes, symptoms, and cures. Even when patients recognize their symptoms, overcome the stigma, gain the support of their families and start looking for medical help, there are insufficient mental healthcare facilities.<ref name=":2"/><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/10/pakistans-mental-health-problem.html |title=Pakistan's mental health problem |date=7 October 2015}}</ref~~><ref name=":2" /~~>

It is concluded that the health care system's response in Pakistan is not adequate to meet the current challenges and that changes in policy are needed. Mental health care needs to be incorporated as a core service in primary care and supported by specialist services.<ref name=":7" /> Political commitment, adequate human and financial resources, and advocacy are needed for the integration of mental health into [[Primary healthcare|PHC]] in Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hussain|first=Syed S.|title= Integration of mental health into primary healthcare: Perceptions of stakeholders in Pakistan|journal= Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal|volume= 24|year=2018|issue=2|pages=146–153 |doi=10.26719/2018.24.2.146|pmid=29748943|s2cid=13670847|doi-access=free}}</ref>

There is a strong need to provide adequate training for general practitioners and postgraduate training for mental health professionals to meet the current demands. A collaborative network between stakeholders in the public and private sector, as well as [[non-governmental organization]]s are required that promotes mental health care and advocates for changes in mental health policy.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":7" />

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Recently, WHO launched a [https://web.archive.org/web/20081013111215/http://www.who.int/mental_health/mhgap/en/ ''mental health Gap Action Program''] (mhGAP). It will call for improving political commitments and help develop policies, and legislative infrastructure, to provide integrated health care.<ref name=":8" />

The [http://www.basicneeds.org/strengthening-mental-health-services-in-pakistan/ ''British BasicNeeds''] program, mental health focused international NGO with a global reach spanning 14 countries, began forming partnerships with Pakistani nonprofits in 2013, has already served 12,000 people in need of psychiatric attention. In addition to setting up camps where patients can see doctors, receive prescriptions for medicines and engage in therapy, the program trains citizens to recognise symptoms and side effects of mental illnesses.<ref name=":9"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.basicneeds.org/strengthening-mental-health-services-in-pakistan/|title=Basic Needs}}</ref~~><ref name=":9" /~~>

==Resources==

{| class="wikitable" ~~align="right~~floatright"

| Doctors (PMC-2022) || 274,135

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| Registered vets || 10,600

{| class="wikitable" align="right"▼

===Personnel===▼

|+ Health Facilities in 2022 (NJM) ▼

According Dr Nasir Javed Malik, there are 274,135 doctors (2022 Statistics from Pakistan Medical Commission) and 14,568 health care facilities in 2021–22 to cater for over 229 million people. Overall, Pakistan's SDGs Index score has increased from 53.11 in 2015 to 63.5 in 2020 i.e. 19.5 percent up from the baseline of 2015. This is a composite score. There are sectoral achievements at different levels. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Pakistan is 54.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020, while Neonatal Mortality Rate is 40.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020 from 41.2 in 2019.Maternal Mortality Ratio is 186 maternal deaths per 100,000 births (Pakistan Economic Survey-2021)▼

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 20,000 doctors of Pakistani origin.▼

'''Challenge of COVID-19 Outbreak In Pakistan''' : To date, Pakistan has experienced five waves of the pandemic. The PTI Government under Prime Minister Imran Khan successfully contained COVID-19 through various initiatives taken under Pakistan Preparedness and Response Plan (PPRP) 2021–22, which is a continuation of the first PPRP, launched on 23 April 2020 in response to the detection of COVID-19 in Pakistan on 26 February 2020. The PPRP 2020, was worth US$595 million. The PPRP 2021-22 highlights the achievements in the implementation of PPRP 2020, the challenges and lessons learned, and the proposed priority intervention to be implemented from June 2021 to July 2022. This plan has been developed by the M/o NHSR&C in consultation with all provinces.▼

▲{| class="wikitable" ~~align="right~~floatright"

▲|+ Health Facilities in 2022 (NJM)

| Total Health Facilities ||14,568 || 146,053 beds

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| M.C.H. centers || 906 || 256 beds

▲===Personnel===

▲According Dr Nasir Javed Malik, there are 274,135 doctors (2022 Statistics from Pakistan Medical Commission) and 14,568 health care facilities in 2021–22 to cater for over 229 million people. Overall, Pakistan's SDGs Index score has increased from 53.11 in 2015 to 63.5 in 2020 i.e. 19.5 percent up from the baseline of 2015. This is a composite score. There are sectoral achievements at different levels. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Pakistan is 54.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020, while Neonatal Mortality Rate is 40.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020 from 41.2 in 2019.Maternal Mortality Ratio is 186 maternal deaths per 100,000 births (Pakistan Economic Survey-2021)

▲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 20,000 doctors of Pakistani origin.

▲'''Challenge of COVID-19 Outbreak In Pakistan''' : To date, Pakistan has experienced five waves of the pandemic. The PTI Government under Prime Minister Imran Khan successfully contained COVID-19 through various initiatives taken under Pakistan Preparedness and Response Plan (PPRP) 2021–22, which is a continuation of the first PPRP, launched on 23 April 2020 in response to the detection of COVID-19 in Pakistan on 26 February 2020. The PPRP 2020, was worth US$595 million. The PPRP 2021-22 highlights the achievements in the implementation of PPRP 2020, the challenges and lessons learned, and the proposed priority intervention to be implemented from June 2021 to July 2022. This plan has been developed by the M/o NHSR&C in consultation with all provinces.

===Facilities===