Pakistan’s health spending surges by nearly 10% to Rs925bn

ISLAMABAD: Despite an almost 10 percent hike in health spending, Pakistan continues to lag behind regional and global benchmarks in healthcare investment, the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 has revealed.

In FY2024, total public health expenditure surged to Rs924.9 billion from Rs843.2 billion the previous year -- yet it still accounted for just 0.9 percent of the GDP, far short of the WHO’s recommended 5 percent threshold for universal health coverage.

The consolidated figure includes Rs724 billion allocated for current expenditures and Rs200.8 billion for development expenditures by both federal and provincial governments. Punjab once again led with Rs551.8 billion in total health outlay, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Rs143.5 billion, Sindh with Rs134.1 billion, and Balochistan with Rs42.2 billion. The federal government’s contribution stood at Rs53.1 billion.

According to the survey, Pakistan had 319,572 registered doctors and 39,088 dentists in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 5.9 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively. The number of nurses grew to 138,391, with 46,801 midwives and 29,163 lady health workers deployed across the country.

Infrastructure also saw modest growth, with the number of hospitals remaining at 1,696 and Basic Health Units (BHUs) at 5,434. Yet, outcomes continue to lag Pakistan’s life expectancy at birth is 67.6 years — four years below the South Asian average of 71.6 — while its infant mortality rate remains disturbingly high at 50.1 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to the regional average of 30.2.

The survey highlights that Pakistan’s total health sector development allocation under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for FY2025 stands at Rs103.53 billion. This includes Rs24.75 billion earmarked for 41 projects under the Ministry of National Health Services, Rs74.5 billion for provinces and special areas, and Rs4.28 billion for cancer hospitals run by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). Among the key initiatives is the Prime Minister’s National Programme for Elimination of Hepatitis C, backed by a three-year budget of Rs 67.77 billion. The project aims to screen and treat 50 percent of the eligible population and provide free access to antiviral drugs. In parallel, a Rs6.8 billion diabetes prevention and control programme has been launched, targeting 33 million adults over five years.

Provincial governments have also expanded health initiatives. Punjab’s Sehat Sahulat programme covered 34 million families and helped treat 9.3 million patients across 360 hospitals. KP’s Sehat Card Plus programme provided treatment worth Rs6.9 billion during July-March FY2025. Sindh focused on upgrading BHUs, introducing telehealth services and DHIS upgrades, while Balochistan rolled out mobile health units and 1122 emergency services.