With health budget slashed, Pima warns of systemic impact


Association says development budget slash will hit hospitals, disease control, and medical education

Prof DrAtif Hafeez Siddiqui 
IV Report

KARACHI: The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (Pima) has criticised the federal government’s proposed 16% cut in the budgetary allocations for the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) for the upcoming financial year, terming it "unjust" amid the country's deepening healthcare crisis.

According to the budget document presented before the National Assembly on June 10, the federal allocation for the health sector has been set at Rs46.10 billion for the fiscal year 2025–26 — a significant reduction from the Rs54.87 billion allocated for 2024–25.

While operational (non-development) expenditures have been increased, the development component of the health budget has suffered a major blow. The Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) budget for the NHSR&C has been slashed to Rs14.34 billion, down from Rs27 billion in the outgoing fiscal year — a reduction of nearly 47%.

In a statement, Pima President (Central), Prof DrAtif Hafeez Siddiqui, expressed concern over the shrinking health development budget. “This substantial cut comes at a time of escalating healthcare demands in the country and will severely affect key areas such as the construction and upgradation of hospitals and Basic Health Units (BHUs), procurement of medical equipment, medical education, disease surveillance systems, and training of healthcare professionals,” he said.

Prof Siddiqui pointed out that although operational spending—primarily salaries and administrative costs—has been increased, the long-term development of healthcare infrastructure and services is being neglected.

“Pakistan is grappling with a dual burden: the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, along with continued threats from infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS,” he stated. “In this context, reducing development allocations undermines the country’s ability to respond effectively and weakens the resilience of the overall health system.”

Pima further noted that Pakistan’s public health expenditure remains under 0.9% of GDP — one of the lowest in the region and far below international standards.

Calling for urgent corrective measures, Prof Siddiqui urged the government to restore and enhance the health development budget to strengthen infrastructure, ensure continuity in disease control programmes, and build a sustainable, responsive, and equitable healthcare system. He also emphasised the need to prioritise both communicable and non-communicable disease control, along with robust investment in medical education and workforce training.

(File photos, images courtesy: Social Track)

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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