Persistent Challenges in Pakistan’s Healthcare as Corruption and Drug Shortages Undermine the System
Pakistan’s healthcare system is facing significant challenges, including a shortage of essential medicines, quality issues, and high costs. The country is ranked 154th on the Healthcare Access and Quality Index, reflecting the difficulties in accessing medical care.
Recent findings show that some Pakistani medical institutes are paying high rents for private buildings, straining the national budget. Allegations of corruption have emerged, with fears that millions of rupees have been diverted by corrupt officials. This has led to several medical institutions facing accusations of corruption and misconduct.
Prof Tipu Sultan, a health expert and civil society activist in Pakistan, noted, “Health is not a top priority for our political leaders, which is evident from the poor state of healthcare and the minimal funding it receives annually. Corruption has become entrenched in the health department.”
Amid rising inflation, the government in Islamabad has increased the prices of essential drugs by deregulating drug pricing, allowing pharmaceutical companies to set prices independently. This has made it difficult for many Pakistanis to afford necessary medications. Kamil Khan, a resident, expressed concerns, saying, “The sudden increase in drug prices has placed a significant burden on people, compromising their right to affordable healthcare.”
Additionally, there is a notable shortage of life-saving drugs for conditions like diabetes, asthma, and psychiatric disorders. This has caused significant inconvenience and made treatment unaffordable for some, according to a patient.
With domestic supplies dwindling, essential medicines are being smuggled into Pakistan and sold at inflated prices. Reports suggest that some of these smuggled drugs are counterfeit. However, the government has been criticized for its inaction. Khawaja Tajammul Hussain from Karachi remarked, “In many government hospitals, even life-saving drugs are unavailable, forcing patients to buy them at high prices from private sellers.”
The issue of fake doctors, also known as quacks, is rampant, with one incident reported where a security guard, posing as a doctor, performed surgery, resulting in a patient’s death. In Punjab alone, there are over 90,000 such unqualified practitioners. Government efforts to address this issue have been limited, allowing fake doctors to operate with impunity.
Shanza Farrukh from Karachi highlighted the impact on rural areas, where “many underprivileged people, unable to reach hospitals, turn to quacks operating local clinics.”
A group of medical professionals in Pakistan has identified several systemic problems in the healthcare sector, including inadequate infrastructure and uneven distribution of healthcare facilities. They stated, “There is an extreme shortage of healthcare facilities, which, along with chronic underfunding and an unstable political system, hampers the health sector.”
This report underlines the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address corruption, improve infrastructure, and ensure equitable access to healthcare in Pakistan.
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