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Mustafa Kamal: Major Hospitals Overburdened, Primary Healthcare Key
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal says Pakistan’s hospitals are overwhelmed—70% of patients should’ve gone to primary care. “If we don’t act now, the crisis will deepen.”
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-21
Mustafa Kamal: Major Hospitals Overburdened, Primary Healthcare Key

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has raised serious concerns about the overburdened public health system, warning that without a shift in strategy toward primary healthcare, Pakistan risks a worsening medical crisis.

Speaking at a healthcare ceremony at Kaati, Kamal said that major hospitals in Karachi and across the country are facing extreme pressure, treating up to 9,000 OPD patients daily—far beyond their intended capacity.

“Hospitals were originally built for a few thousand people, but now they’re serving tens of thousands daily. Patients from all provinces—including AJK and Islamabad—are coming here. This is unsustainable,” Kamal said.

Health System Under Strain

The minister emphasized that over 70% of patients visiting major hospitals should have been treated at the primary level, but due to weak infrastructure, they are flooding tertiary care institutions.

He stressed the urgent need to strengthen basic health units (BHUs) and revise the national health policy to address growing population pressures and resource constraints.

“Our resources are limited. The population is growing at 2.6% annually. If we don’t include this crisis in our national health policy, we’ll face a breakdown,” he warned.

Polio Still a Major Challenge

Expressing concern over Pakistan’s failure to eradicate polio, Kamal said it’s unfortunate that the country remains one of the last where the virus still exists.

“Polio has been eradicated from the world, but not from Pakistan. This is a question mark on our performance,” he stated.

Overuse of Medicines & IMF Comparison

The health minister also pointed out alarming statistics, stating that Pakistan consumes more in medicine purchases than it receives in loans from the IMF.

“We are spending beyond our means on medicines. It’s time to shift focus from just treatment to prevention,” Kamal added.

Way Forward: Doorstep Healthcare

Kamal concluded by stating the ministry’s current priority is revamping basic healthcare services so that every citizen can receive quality treatment at their doorstep, reducing pressure on tertiary hospitals.
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