ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s public health expenditure for the fiscal year 2024-25 has been recorded at Rs925 billion, a figure described as a milestone in the Pakistan Economic Survey.
However, this allocation represents only 0.9 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which remains significantly below the five percent benchmark set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for achieving universal health coverage.
The country’s health expenditure has remained around one percent of GDP or lower for nearly three decades, highlighting the continued gap between public investment in healthcare and the level considered necessary for broader health coverage.
Provincial allocations also show limited per capita spending on healthcare. Punjab has allocated Rs2,043 per person annually, equivalent to around 12 US dollars, while Balochistan’s allocation stands at Rs2,680 per person, approximately 16 dollars.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has allocated Rs3,136 per person per year, around 18 dollars, whereas Sindh’s allocation is Rs3,203 per person, roughly 19 dollars.
The figures indicate that the amount allocated by the state for an individual’s healthcare needs over an entire year remains lower than the cost of a single consultation at a private clinic.
