Pakistan’s Economic Survey of 2010-2011 reveals that infant mortality per thousand in Pakistan is 63.3 which is highest in South East Asia and China. Infant mortality is the lowest in Sri Lanka at 9.7 per 1000, in India 47.6, in China 16.1 while Indonesia has 27.1 and Malaysia 15.
As such Pakistan has the highest rate of infant mortality amongst 10 countries including Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It is a wake up call for health department officials who must improve the situation as health expenditure as percentage of GDP is only 0.23 percent in 2010-11 which in 2000-01 it was 0.72 percent of GDP.
It appears public sector health expenditure is lagging behind while private sector is investing heavily in the health sector as is evident by great expansions of private hospitals and diagnostic labs that have mushroomed in the country. However, expansive hospitals serve wealthier section of society while the poor masses go to public sector hospitals and dispensaries that are relatively poorly financed.
DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore