KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has expressed grave concern over the healthcare indicators presented in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26, stating that the official figures reflect a worsening healthcare crisis caused by years of neglect and underinvestment in the sector.
In a statement issued by PMA Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, the association said the survey validates long-standing concerns raised by the medical community regarding the deteriorating state of public healthcare services across the country.
The PMA criticized the allocation of Rs19.37 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for health and noted that despite total public health spending reaching Rs942.2 billion in FY2025, healthcare expenditure remains below one percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to the PMA, Pakistan continues to lag behind other South Asian countries on several key health indicators. The association pointed out that Pakistan's life expectancy stands at 67.8 years compared to the South Asian average of 72.6 years, while the maternal mortality ratio remains at 155 deaths per 100,000 live births against the regional average of 120.
The PMA also highlighted concerns over child malnutrition, stating that 33.6 percent of Pakistani children under the age of five suffer from chronic stunting, while 16.5 percent of the population faces undernourishment, both figures exceeding regional averages.
Commenting on the increase in registered doctors and dentists, the PMA said the numbers fail to reflect the ground realities, including the growing migration of healthcare professionals due to inadequate salaries, limited career opportunities, unsafe working conditions and rising inflation.
The association further noted that the number of registered nurses has remained stagnant at 138,391, raising concerns about the country's nurse-to-patient ratio and the overall capacity of healthcare institutions.
Warning of further deterioration in the health sector, the PMA urged the government to increase public healthcare spending to at least three percent of GDP in the upcoming fiscal year and gradually raise it to five percent by 2030.
The association also called for a uniform service structure for doctors and healthcare workers across the country, a national programme to address child malnutrition and stunting, and greater investment in Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs) to improve healthcare access in underserved areas.
"The figures contained in the Economic Survey should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers," Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said, adding that healthcare must be treated as a national priority to prevent further strain on an already overburdened system.
The PMA warned that failure to make substantial investments in public health during the 2026-27 federal and provincial budgets could have serious consequences for healthcare delivery and public well-being across the country.
