KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has expressed grave concern over the worsening state of healthcare services in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, warning that the province is facing a severe public health crisis marked by rising disease outbreaks, preventable deaths, and administrative inaction.
In a strongly worded statement, PMA Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said Sindh’s health system is under immense strain, with multiple epidemics emerging simultaneously and exposing serious gaps in governance and service delivery.
According to the association, Sindh witnessed a major measles outbreak in 2025, with over 11,000 suspected cases, 4,200 confirmed infections, and 65 deaths, mostly affecting children under five. Karachi, Khairpur, Sukkur, and Jacobabad were identified as the most affected districts, where malnutrition has further increased mortality risks.
The PMA also highlighted the spread of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever following a reported death in Tando Muhammad Khan, attributing the situation to weak livestock regulation and lack of isolation facilities.
Additionally, the association raised alarm over 894 new HIV/AIDS cases reported in the first quarter of 2026, including 329 children, linking the surge to unsafe medical practices and negligence.
The statement further noted that Sindh has reported 25 confirmed cases and nine deaths from Mpox as of mid-April 2026, with evidence of local transmission in Karachi and Khairpur.
Hepatitis also remains a major concern, with estimates suggesting that between 2 to 4.5 million people in Sindh are living with active Hepatitis C, while millions more are affected nationwide by hepatitis B and C.
Highlighting additional public health challenges, the PMA reported more than 42,000 dog-bite cases, warning that shortages of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin are leading to preventable deaths. Malaria continues to spread due to poor sanitation and stagnant water, particularly in rural areas.
The association criticized the provincial government for failing to respond effectively to these challenges, stating that repeated requests for a judicial inquiry into incidents at Mithi Hospital and reported suicides of medical students in Mirpurkhas have not been addressed. It also expressed concern over the killing of a doctor in Karachi’s Red Zone, terming it a serious threat to the safety of healthcare professionals.
The PMA said public hospitals are facing shortages of staff, essential medicines, and basic facilities, while rural health infrastructure, including Basic Health Units and Rural Health Centres, has largely collapsed, forcing patients to rely on unqualified practitioners.
The association has demanded immediate judicial inquiries into the Mithi and Mirpurkhas incidents, improved security for healthcare workers, mass screening for HIV, expanded vaccination campaigns for measles and rabies, targeted containment measures for Congo virus in affected districts, and strict action against substandard and counterfeit medicines.
Warning of possible protests, the PMA said it would mobilize the medical community if urgent corrective measures are not taken, adding that continued inaction could have devastating consequences for public health in Sindh.
