Pakistan is a developing country with a population of over 220 million people. The country’s healthcare system is facing a number of challenges, including a shortage of healthcare workers, limited access to quality healthcare, and a high cost of healthcare.
However, there are a number of emerging technologies that have the potential to revolutionize healthcare in Pakistan. These technologies include telemedicine, artificial intelligence (AI), and mobile health (mHealth).
Telemedicine allows patients to receive medical care from doctors remotely, via video or audio calls. This can be a valuable tool for patients in rural areas who have difficulty accessing healthcare services. AI is being used to develop new diagnostic tools and treatments, as well as to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery. For example, AI can be used to analyze medical images to identify potential problems, or to recommend treatment options. mHealth uses mobile devices to deliver healthcare services. This can include anything from providing patients with access to educational resources to connecting them with doctors for remote consultations.
These are just a few of the emerging technologies that have the potential to improve healthcare in Pakistan. As these technologies continue to develop, they have the potential to make a significant impact on the health of the Pakistani population.
In addition to these emerging technologies, there are a number of other factors that will need to be addressed in order to improve healthcare in Pakistan. These include:
- Investment in infrastructure: The Pakistani government needs to invest in healthcare infrastructure, such as hospitals, clinics, and medical schools. This will help to ensure that all Pakistanis have access to quality healthcare.
- Human resources: Pakistan needs to train more doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. This will help to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the country.
- Policy reform: The Pakistani government needs to reform its healthcare policies in order to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to all citizens.
By addressing these challenges, Pakistan can make significant progress in improving the quality of healthcare for its citizens. The emerging technologies discussed above can play a key role in this effort.
Comparison with other countries
The data below shows how Pakistan compares to other countries in terms of life expectancy, maternal mortality rate, child mortality rate, and healthcare expenditure as percentage of GDP:
| Indicator | Pakistan | Developed countries | Developing countries |
| Life expectancy (2022) | 67.2 years | 81.2 years | 71.5 years |
| Maternal mortality rate (2020) | 276 deaths per 100,000 live births | 13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 210 deaths per 100,000 live births |
| Child mortality rate (2020) | 62 deaths per 1,000 live births | 3 deaths per 1,000 live births | 53 deaths per 1,000 live births |
| Healthcare expenditure as percentage of GDP (2020) | 4.50% | 10.10% | 6.10% |
As you can see, Pakistan has a lower life expectancy, higher maternal mortality rate, and higher child mortality rate than developed countries. However, it is doing better than some developing countries in terms of healthcare expenditure.
Policy level interventions
The Pakistani government can take a number of policy level interventions to improve healthcare in the country. These include:
- Investing in healthcare infrastructure: The government needs to invest in new hospitals, clinics, and medical schools. This will help to increase the availability of healthcare services.
- Providing financial assistance: The government needs to provide financial assistance to low-income families so that they can afford healthcare. This can be done through subsidies, tax breaks, or other programs.
- Reforming healthcare policies: The government needs to reform its healthcare policies to make them more efficient and effective. This could include measures such as streamlining the referral system, improving the quality of care, and reducing the cost of healthcare.
By taking these steps, the Pakistani government can make significant progress in improving the quality of healthcare for its citizens.
