PIMA concerned over deteriorating state of public health
These reports highlight alarming figures, including a 400 per cent increase in deaths due to HIV in Pakistan, 70 per cent of drug-resistant TB cases going undiagnosed, and a rise in malaria cases. These statistics clearly reflect the deteriorating state of public health and the failure of health policies in the country.
Central President of PIMA, Prof Atif Hafeez Siddiqui stated that a major cause of this crisis is the appointment of incompetent and irrelevant individuals in key health institutions. A recent example is the appointment of a non-medical person as deputy coordinator in the TB Control Programme—an act that violates not only the orders of the High Court but also merit and advertisement requirements.
He emphasised that past and present governments have deliberately excluded healthcare professionals from the policy-making process, relying instead on the advice of favoured individuals. In particular, doctors and health workers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are facing pressure, uncertainty, and discouragement under the guise of reforms. Such decisions not only damage institutional credibility but also put public lives at risk.
The PIMA has called for a high-level transparent inquiry in light of the Global Fund report.
It has also demanded that only qualified, experienced, and relevant experts be appointed to key positions; that national health programmes be free from political influence; and that doctors and health professionals be formally included in policymaking to ensure better and more effective decisions in the public interest.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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PIMA concerned over deteriorating state of public health
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has expressed deep concern over recent media reports and the latest audit report by the international organisation, The Global Fund. These reports highlight alarming figures, including a 400 per cent increase in deaths due to HIV in Pakistan, 70 per cent of drug-resistant TB cases going undiagnosed, and a rise in malaria cases. These statistics clearly reflect the deteriorating state of public health and the failure of health policies in the country. Central President of PIMA, Prof Atif Hafeez Siddiqui stated that a major cause of this crisis is the appointment of incompetent and irrelevant individuals in key health institutions. A recent example is the appointment of a non-medical person as deputy coordinator in the TB Control Programme—an act that violates not only the orders of the High Court but also merit and advertisement requirements. He emphasised that past and present governments have deliberately excluded healthcare professionals from the policy-making process, relying instead on the advice of favoured individuals. In particular, doctors and health workers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are facing pressure, uncertainty, and discouragement under the guise of reforms. Such decisions not only damage institutional credibility but also put public lives at risk. The PIMA has called for a high-level transparent inquiry in light of the Global Fund report. It has also demanded that only qualified, experienced, and relevant experts be appointed to key positions; that national health programmes be free from political influence; and that doctors and health professionals be formally included in policymaking to ensure better and more effective decisions in the public interest. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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Tuberculosis (TB) continues to cast a long and deadly shadow across the globe, with Pakistan standing among the countries most affected by the disease. TB claimed over 1.25 million lives worldwide in 2023, with 8.2m new cases reported despite the fact that it is both preventable and curable. For Pakistan, the numbers are especially sobering. Over 686,000 Pakistanis, including 81,000 children, developed TB last year. An estimated 47,000 lives were lost to the disease, many of them due to late diagnosis and lack of access to treatment. Experts say that overcrowding, poverty, and weak healthcare infrastructure are some of the conditions where TB thrives. What makes it particularly dangerous is its ability to spread silently. The infected individuals remain asymptomatic for months, unknowingly passing on the disease. While first-line treatment can cure most TB cases, the rising number of drug-resistant TB cases presents a serious public health threat. In 2023, 15,000 people in Pakistan developed Rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB)a particularly hard-to-treat form of the disease. Rifampicin, a cornerstone of TB treatment, becomes ineffective in such cases, forcing patients to rely on more complex and toxic second-line therapies. Historically, RR-TB treatment lasted up to two years and involved painful injections, often with disappointing outcomes. Fortunately, recent advances have introduced shorter, all-oral regimens such as BPaLM, offering hope for better results and fewer side effects.
