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Health groups warn of heavy toll from tobacco use

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Advocates urge stronger enforcement of tobacco control laws, citing thousands of preventable deaths annually IV Report KARACHI: The Pakistan Chest Society (PCS) and the Tobacco Free Cities Coalition (TFCC) have warned that tobacco-related diseases are responsible for an estimated 164,000 deaths annually in Pakistan, a toll they say exceeds the combined mortality from tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and road traffic accidents. The organisations described tobacco use as a major public health challenge and urged authorities to strengthen enforcement of tobacco control laws. “An estimated 164,000 Pakistanis die each year from diseases caused by tobacco use,” said Prof Javaid Ahmed Khan, president of PCS Sindh. “This number exceeds the annual mortality from tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and road traffic crashes combined.” He said tobacco remains a leading risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, heart disease and stroke, while also contributing to complications a...
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Pakistan faces renewed calls to end obstetric fistula

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Experts cite rural healthcare gaps, stillbirth risks, and delayed treatment IV Report KARACHI: Health experts, surgeons, and women’s rights advocates have called for urgent investment in maternal healthcare and stronger rural obstetric services to eliminate obstetric fistula in Pakistan, warning that thousands of women continue to suffer from one of the world’s most devastating — yet preventable — childbirth injuries. The call was made during separate events held in Karachi on May 23 to mark the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2026 under the theme, “Her Health Is a Right: Invest to End Fistula and Childbirth Injuries.” Speakers stressed that timely maternity care, skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric services, and community awareness were essential to preventing avoidable childbirth injuries and maternal deaths. The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) observed World Obstetric Fistula Day with an awareness session, where experts highlighted...
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Pakistan loses a towering voice in infectious disease care

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Tributes pour in for Karachi physician Dr Naseem Salahuddin, remembered for her work in rabies prevention, HIV care, and humanitarian service By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Senior Karachi-based infectious diseases expert and humanitarian physician Professor Dr Naseem Salahuddin, widely respected for her lifelong services in infectious disease management, rabies prevention, HIV care, tuberculosis treatment, and public health advocacy, passed away after a tragic road accident in Morocco, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes from Pakistan’s medical fraternity and international colleagues. “Dr Naseem was the epitome of what a medical professional should aspire to be. She was an exceptionally competent clinician, a thorough academic, and a pioneering force in infectious diseases.” This was stated by the Infection Control Society of Pakistan (ICSP) in a condolence note issued by Prof Dr Rafiq Khanani, Dr Nizam Damani, Dr Hasan Nawab, Dr Khursheed Hashmi, and Dr Saeed Abbasi. The I...
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Preventable surgical injuries haunt Pakistani women

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UNFPA links fistula risk to obstructed labour and poor maternal care KARACHI: Pakistan continues to face a silent but devastating maternal health challenge, as experts warn that obstetric fistula — a preventable childbirth injury — still threatens thousands of women, particularly teenage girls and those lacking access to safe maternity care. In a statement issued on the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, Dr Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA Representative in Pakistan, said fistula remained one of the most severe childbirth-related injuries, often leaving women incontinent, socially isolated, and emotionally traumatised. He stressed that the condition was both preventable and treatable, and called for sustained investment in maternal healthcare, surgical safety, and rehabilitation services across Pakistan. According to the statement, nearly 70 per cent of fistula cases in Pakistan are linked to surgical injuries, medically termed iatrogenic fistula, highlighting concerns over the q...
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'Criminal gaps’ fuelling HIV spread: PMA

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                                                                                      Sindh profile Doctors call for crackdown on illegal blood banks, unsafe injections and unhygienic barber practices IV Report KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Monday issued a strong warning over what it described as Pakistan’s rapidly worsening HIV/AIDS situation, blaming “criminal gaps” in health infrastructure, weak regulation and unsafe medical practices for accelerating the spread of the virus. In a statement issued from the PMA Central Secretariat on the occasion of National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said that while global researchers were making progress toward an effective HIV vaccine, Pakistan could not afford to ig...
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Healthcare strained by nurses shortage: PMA

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Doctors’ body calls for reforms, better pay and filling of vacant posts IV Report KARACHI: As the world marked International Nurses Day on Tuesday, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) warned that Pakistan’s healthcare system was facing a critical crisis due to an acute shortage of nurses and paramedics, calling the situation the “single greatest hurdle” to quality healthcare in the country. In a statement issued on the occasion, the PMA said nurses and paramedics formed the true backbone of every medical facility, stressing that even the most advanced hospitals could not function effectively without trained staff providing round-the-clock care. Honouring this year’s global theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” the association expressed concern over Pakistan’s poor nursing density compared to regional countries. It said Pakistan currently had only 0.5 nurses per 1,000 people, far below countries such as the Maldives (5.0), Nepal (3.6), Sri Lanka (2.3) ...
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Fuel price surge deepening health crisis, warns PMA

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Doctors say rising fuel costs are affecting medicines, treatment and household survival IV Report KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Saturday voiced concern over the country’s worsening economic pressures, warning that rising petroleum prices were increasing the cost of healthcare, medicines and essential food items, particularly for low-income families. In a statement issued by PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, the association said recent fuel price hikes had triggered a wider inflationary trend affecting nearly every sector linked to public health and daily living. The PMA noted that higher transport and production costs had compelled pharmaceutical companies to increase medicine prices, making treatment increasingly difficult for vulnerable patients. It also pointed to mounting operational expenses faced by private healthcare providers, including electricity, transport and medical equipment costs, saying these pressures were contributing to higher...
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