Balochistan Healthcare Crisis: 80% Lack Basic Facilities

The healthcare sector in Balochistan is grappling with a profound crisis, leaving more than 80 percent of its population without essential primary healthcare services. This dire situation persists despite numerous reforms reportedly introduced by the provincial government over the past one and a half years. The province's Health Secretary, Mujeebur Rehman, highlighted the immense challenges posed by its vast geographical area, difficult terrain, and resource constraints during a meeting in Turbat.

To address the critical shortage of medical professionals, the government has promoted between 600 to 700 medical officers and sought special cabinet exemptions to overcome administrative obstacles. However, human resources continue to be the most significant challenge, making consistent 24-hour service delivery difficult. The health secretary noted that Balochistan's entire development budget is substantially smaller than Punjab's health department budget, creating governance complexities.

In an effort to enhance facilities and training, the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan is approving seven departments for the teaching hospital. Furthermore, the health sector is undergoing digitization, with plans to equip approximately 1,500 health centers with direct satellite connectivity through cooperation with Suparco. This initiative aims to enable telemedicine, live streaming, and improved performance monitoring. The secretary acknowledged that severe shortages in infrastructure across roads, education, and health directly impact provincial health indicators and urged medical professionals to prioritize quality service delivery.