A recent survey in Pakistan has revealed that nearly half of the country’s households are affected by chronic illnesses. Respondents were asked whether anyone in their household suffers from a chronic condition that requires regular medication.
According to the survey results, 21% of participants reported that a household member suffers from high blood pressure, 20% reported diabetes, and 10% said both conditions exist in their homes. Meanwhile, 47% reported no chronic illnesses in their families, while 2% did not respond.
Health experts have expressed serious concern over the rising burden of chronic diseases in Pakistan. According to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) Diabetes Atlas 2025, the prevalence of diabetes in the country has reached an alarming 31.4%.
Experts stress that early detection and timely diagnosis of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension are crucial in reducing their economic and health burden. Millions of people remain unaware that they are suffering from such conditions, which can lead to severe complications and organ damage if left untreated.
While artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are revolutionizing global healthcare by enabling faster diagnosis and improving treatment, their adoption in Pakistan remains limited.
Shehzad Arshad, Chairman of the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP), believes that integrating AI-powered medical technologies can help tackle the growing healthcare challenges in the country. He stated that AI-based diagnostic tools and teleconsultation platforms can make quality healthcare more accessible and affordable for the population.
However, Arshad emphasized that significant investment is required in infrastructure, professional training, and strong data governance to fully leverage AI in the healthcare sector.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali, Head of Radiology at Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, shared that while AI has been in use in Pakistan’s healthcare for some time and continues to expand, challenges arise when sharing patient data with software companies to develop AI algorithms.
He also highlighted the lack of research positions in university hospitals, which is another hurdle in developing indigenous AI healthcare software in Pakistan.
