Pakistan’s healthcare sector is confronting a severe challenge as a drastic budget reduction has halted all new health projects, while a proposal for a nationwide healthcare card to provide relief to citizens remains unimplemented in several provinces, a Senate committee was informed on Tuesday.
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, led by Chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, learned that the ministry’s budget had been slashed from Rs. 21 billion last year to Rs. 14 billion for the current year. Federal Minister for National Health Services, Syed Mustafa Kamal, revealed that this cut means twelve proposed projects received no funding, forcing the ministry to manage ongoing initiatives within existing allocations.
During the session, Senator Anusha Rehman stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive healthcare card to ensure accessible medical services for taxpayers across the country. In response, Minister Kamal acknowledged that while the system is operational in some provinces, others, including Sindh, have yet to implement it. He did note, however, that 16 hospitals in Sindh are already providing free medical care.
The panel also delved into the overwhelming patient load at major public hospitals. Senator Rehman pointed out that the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) is currently accommodating over 10,000 patients daily, far exceeding its design capacity of 3,000. She urged authorities to devise a viable plan to manage the increasing influx of patients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Concerns were also raised about the administration and conduct within government medical facilities. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri highlighted the poor attitude of some physicians, frequent absenteeism of Medico-Legal Officers, and a lack of basic amenities. Senator Rehman expressed concern over the misuse of administrative posts by doctors, emphasizing that physicians should focus on patient care.
The discussion touched upon a significant “brain drain” affecting the nation’s medical workforce. Senator Rehman disclosed that 50-60% of Pakistani doctors emigrate, with Ireland being a popular destination where they earn around 3,000 euros monthly. She advocated for doubling the annual number of graduating doctors from 22,000 to 44,000 to address the domestic shortage. Minister Kamal confirmed the graduation figure but added that many female graduates do not continue practicing medicine after obtaining their degrees.
A separate briefing on the pricing of medicines was deemed “highly sensitive” by the minister, who proposed an in-camera session for a more detailed discussion on hardship cases and new registrations. The committee chairman concurred with the proposal.
Furthermore, the body addressed the administrative control of the Islamabad Dental Hospital. The minister informed members that an internal committee would decide whether Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) will remain under the control of PIMS or continue with its current arrangement, with a report to follow.
In its final deliberation, the committee recommended including Senators Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur and Mohammad Humayun Mohmand on the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Board to provide expert input on restoring the credentials pathway for Aesthetic Physicians.