Pakistan Crisis: 80% in Balochistan Lack Basic Healthcare

Balochistan Health Secretary Mujeebur Rehman has revealed that over 80 per cent of the population in Pakistan’s largest province lacks access to even basic primary healthcare services, highlighting the severe challenges faced in the region.

His remarks suggest that only a small fraction of people in Balochistan have access to essential services such as ambulances, general practitioners, or basic outpatient care. An editorial in Pakistan’s leading daily The Express Tribune pointed out that multiple factors are responsible for the province’s struggling healthcare system.

The report noted that Balochistan’s vast land area, scattered population, and low population density make it extremely difficult to develop and maintain effective healthcare infrastructure. The region’s arid and mountainous terrain further adds to the challenge of delivering healthcare services efficiently.

Most major hospitals in the province are concentrated in Quetta, the most populated area, while regions like Turbat, the second most populated city, are located nearly a day’s drive away, limiting timely access to medical care. However, geography is not the only issue affecting the system.

The Health Secretary stated that around 15 major reforms have been introduced in the healthcare sector over the past one-and-a-half years. However, concerns remain about their implementation and effectiveness.

The editorial questioned whether earlier reforms were properly executed before introducing new ones, emphasising that without strict accountability and effective management, meaningful progress will remain limited.

A media report last month highlighted that Balochistan continues to record high maternal, infant, and neonatal mortality rates. These are largely due to poor healthcare access, shortage of skilled birth attendants, malnutrition, early marriages, and inadequate medical facilities.

Many of these deaths are preventable and often result from complications such as excessive bleeding, infections, and lack of timely care for mothers and newborns, as reported by Pakistan Today.

Despite some improvement in mortality rates in recent years, the overall situation remains concerning. A large number of women, especially in remote and rural areas, still give birth without trained medical assistance due to lack of accessible and adequately equipped healthcare facilities.

With Inputs From IANS