ISLAMABAD: Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) will get 300pc increase in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2024-25.

According to reliable sources, on Tuesday team of the health ministry had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the development funds for the health sector.

“Our current year’s allocation was Rs8.9 billion but for the upcoming financial year the allocation will be Rs27 billion,” a team member said.

“The prime minister was kind enough to understand our problems and played a role in the allocation which will address a number of issues in the health sector,” the team member said.

Nurses, midwives and LHWs

According to Economic Survey of Pakistan, for the year 2023-24, while the number of registered doctors and dentists increased in Pakistan, no increase was observed in registered nurses, midwives and lady health workers (LHWs).

It showed that the number of doctors was 282,383 in year 2022 but in year 2023 the number was increased to 299,113.

The number of dentists in Pakistan was also increased to 36,032 from 33,156 in 2022.

However, data showed that the number of nurses could not be increased during the last two years and remained stagnant at 127,855. The number of midwives was also remained stagnant at 46,110. Similarly the number of LHWs was 24,022.

GDP in health low

While country has been spending around 1 percent of GDP in health sector, document claimed that to achieve universal health coverage it was crucial to allocate a significant percentage of GDP to public sector health expenditures.

“In Pakistan, health expenditure as a percentage of GDP is currently very low, but there are positive signs that this allocation will increase over time compared to previous years,” it stated.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2024