Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has said that Pakistan’s healthcare system is itself ailing, with the country’s population increasing by 6.1 million every year.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the “Big Catch-Up Round” at the Basic Health Unit in Golra Sharif, the minister highlighted that 68% of diseases in Pakistan are caused by the consumption of contaminated water. He said the campaign aims to vaccinate children who missed routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting them from twelve life-threatening diseases. The vaccination drive will continue for the next twelve days.
Mustafa Kamal pointed out serious flaws in the country’s health infrastructure, saying, “The PIMS hospital was originally built for thousands, but now it caters to millions. When you enter the hospital, it feels like a political rally has just ended.”
He questioned how many more hospitals can realistically be built despite the government already spending billions of rupees, adding that around 70% of people go to large hospitals unnecessarily.
“The population of Pakistan is growing rapidly at a rate of 3.6% annually, with an increase of 6.1 million people every year. In contrast, countries like Iran and Bangladesh have successfully reduced their growth rates to 2%,” he noted.
Kamal further warned that Pakistan has one of the fastest-growing populations in the world. The country also has the highest number of hepatitis patients globally. He added that 26 million children are out of school, and 40% of Pakistani children suffer from malnutrition, hindering their physical and cognitive development.
