The healthcare situation in our country is worrisome and presents big problems for our people’s health. Healthcare costs are going up, and many people can’t get the care they need. Hospitals are too full, there aren’t enough medical supplies, and not enough trained doctors and nurses. It’s important to fix these problems so everyone can get good healthcare when they need it. This will help everyone stay healthy and well in our country.
Karachi
Pakistan is facing a big problem with healthcare. It’s the fifth most populated country in the world. According to the World Health Organization, Pakistan’s healthcare system is ranked 124th out of 169 countries. This means urgent changes are needed to improve healthcare in Pakistan.
The 2024 “Health of the Nation” report by the Pakistan Medical Association shows a grim picture of healthcare in the country. At a press conference at the PMA House, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, who is the Secretary General of PMA, talked about the report’s findings. He said that the government has approved price hikes for over 80,000 medicines, which has made it very hard for people to afford them. Because of inflation and the decreasing value of the Pakistani currency, it costs more to produce medicines locally, which makes it difficult for poor people to buy the medicines they need.
The report says the government needs to act quickly to solve this problem because it’s having a serious impact on the health of the public.
Burden of hepatitis B and C
In Pakistan, there is a serious problem with hepatitis B and C, which affects about 15 million people. This is because there are not enough ways to prevent these diseases, test for them, or treat them well. Also, some people who are not qualified try to treat these diseases, which makes the problem worse. The report says we should do things like giving vaccines to many people to stop these dangerous infections from spreading.
Another big problem is unsafe drinking water, which causes a lot of deaths. About 40% of deaths in the country happen because of contaminated water. This leads to diseases like diarrhea, which is one of the main reasons why babies die. The report says it’s very important to make sure the water people drink is clean and safe to improve the health of everyone.
HIV and cancer
In Pakistan, there is a significant increase in HIV infections, with 63,202 cases reported. This rise is due to factors like not enough testing, using syringes again, and people not knowing enough about HIV. To fight this HIV/AIDS crisis, the report says we need more testing, better education for people, and easier access to treatments that save lives.
Cancer is also becoming a big problem in Pakistan, especially among women. The most common type is breast cancer. Things like the environment and bad eating habits are making more people get cancer. It is now the second most common reason people die in Pakistan. The report says we must deal with these things to have fewer cases of cancer and make people healthier.
Coronary heart diseases and diabetes
The report says it’s important to spread awareness and take steps to prevent diseases. Coronary heart disease is a big health problem with many deaths. The report says we urgently need plans to deal with heart diseases. These plans should focus on controlling risk factors, teaching the public, and making lifestyle changes.
Pakistan is the third highest country in the world for diabetes. A shocking 30.8% of people have diabetes. The report says this is a serious problem and we need to work hard to solve it.
Finding problems early, taking action, and preventing problems are very important to reduce pressure on the healthcare system. The report also talks about the high number of road accidents and air pollution, which are worrying statistics.
Road accidents
Pakistan has serious issues with road safety and air pollution. It has the highest number of deaths from traffic accidents in Asia, which shows the need for better safety measures on roads. Air pollution, both outdoors and indoors, causes early deaths and lung infections. The report says that not following laws about these issues is worrying.
There has been an increase in violence against healthcare workers, especially during polio vaccinations in 2022. The report says we need to act quickly to protect healthcare providers. It also says we need to spend more money on preventing diseases and improving healthcare. Climate change is affecting health in Pakistan, even though Pakistan’s carbon emissions are very low compared to the rest of the world.
Pakistan has many health problems, like high rates of different illnesses. The report talks about challenges like a growing population. High numbers of mothers dying during childbirth. Infectious diseases, health issues caused by how people live, not enough clean water, and pollution. The report says we need to act fast, spend more money, and change laws to make Pakistan healthier and stronger. The “Health of the Nation” report for 2024 calls for big changes to Pakistan’s healthcare system. The Pakistan Medical Association wants policymakers to make health a top priority and make real changes to create a healthier, stronger country.
Conclusion
Our country’s healthcare system needs immediate attention and action. There are big problems like many diseases, not enough hospitals, and not enough medicine. The “Health of the Nation” report for 2024 says we must spend more money on healthcare. Make better rules, and do more to stop diseases before they start. Fixing these problems is very important for making sure everyone can get good healthcare. Leaders need to make healthcare a top priority. Give enough money, and use good plans to make sure everyone can see a doctor when they need to. This will help make our country healthier and stronger for everyone in the future.