Today marks the annual International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of strong and resilient health systems. The theme for this year’s UHC Day is “Unaffordable Health Costs? We’re Sick of It!”, a sentiment that resonates deeply in many parts of the world, especially in countries like Pakistan, where access to healthcare is often a privilege rather than a right.
According to the United Nations, Universal Health Coverage means that everyone, everywhere, can access the health services they need without facing financial hardship. Achieving this goal remains a distant dream for many nations, even the most developed ones, where the rising cost of healthcare continues to be a significant challenge. In Pakistan, this problem is exacerbated by a lack of infrastructure, insufficient funding, and systemic inefficiencies. For the millions living in Pakistan, particularly those facing serious medical conditions or emergencies, healthcare often feels like a luxury they cannot afford, and the consequences can be dire.
For those suffering from chronic illnesses, the financial burden of continuous treatment can be overwhelming. The concept of health insurance remains an abstract idea for the majority of Pakistanis, even among those who are relatively affluent or educated. But Pakistan’s healthcare crisis is not limited to the inability to afford health insurance. A shocking statistic reveals that more than 50% of Pakistanis do not have access to basic primary healthcare services. To make matters worse, around 42% of Pakistanis lack any form of health coverage. These figures underscore the scale of the problem, highlighting a fundamental gap in the healthcare system that is preventing millions from accessing even the most basic medical care.
Over the years, some policy steps have been taken to address this issue. The introduction of health cards in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, and the Sehat Sahulat Programme at the federal level, have provided a glimmer of hope for lower-income families, enabling them to access healthcare services that were previously out of reach. Furthermore, the Sindh government’s allocation of Rs381.83 billion for the health sector in its latest budget shows a step in the right direction. Additionally, recent initiatives, such as the Cancer and Cardiac Surgery Special Card Project in Punjab, are commendable and will allow patients to avail treatment facilities up to Rs1 million.
However, while these efforts are important, they hardly scratch the surface of what is needed. Cancer and cardiac treatments in Pakistan are likely to exceed the Rs1 million limit set by these schemes, leaving many patients still unable to afford the care they desperately need. As such, charity—rather than government policy—continues to be the main lifeline for the country’s poor when it comes to healthcare. While Pakistan should undoubtedly be proud of the work that its charities have done in this area, charity can never be a substitute for universal health coverage. The question remains: how can a government that is struggling with massive debt, a faltering economy, and an overstretched budget afford to provide expensive healthcare for a population of over 240 million people?
Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Pakistan requires more than just subsidizing healthcare for a few. The core issue is why a basic human right such as healthcare is so prohibitively expensive in the first place. This question goes beyond simply offering subsidies or introducing health cards. It requires a fundamental rethinking of how the healthcare system operates and is financed. The government must look into the root causes of high healthcare costs, such as inefficiencies in public hospitals, a lack of skilled medical professionals, corruption, and the monopolization of pharmaceutical companies, which drive up prices. Until these structural issues are addressed, healthcare will remain a privilege for the few, and the majority will continue to suffer.
It is also worth noting that Pakistan spends only around 1% of its GDP on healthcare, a figure far below the 5% of GDP recommended by health experts as the minimum for a robust healthcare system. With such limited spending, it is no surprise that the healthcare system is stretched thin and cannot meet the needs of the country’s growing population. For Pakistan to achieve UHC, the government needs to increase healthcare spending significantly. However, this cannot be done in isolation; it must be part of a larger effort to overhaul the entire healthcare system, focusing on reducing waste, improving efficiency, and ensuring that health services are accessible and affordable for all.
For all its shortcomings, there is some hope. The ongoing efforts to provide health cards and other government-backed initiatives have demonstrated that Pakistan has the potential to take meaningful steps toward universal health coverage. The road ahead is undoubtedly long, and the challenges are substantial, but the government must not shy away from the hard work that lies ahead. Today, on UHC Day, it is a moment for reflection and action. Pakistan’s healthcare crisis cannot be ignored any longer. The people of Pakistan deserve a healthcare system that ensures access to life-saving treatments for everyone, without the risk of financial ruin.
In the end, achieving Universal Health Coverage is not just about providing health cards or government subsidies. It’s about creating a system where every Pakistani, regardless of their income or social status, can access the healthcare they need to live a healthy, productive life. The question remains: is Pakistan ready to take the necessary steps to ensure that healthcare becomes a right, not a privilege?
Shafaqna Pakistan
pakistan.shafaqna.com
Note: Shafaqna do not endorse the vews expressed in the article
