More than 669,000 individuals in Pakistan are impacted by Tuberculosis, leading to 51,000 deaths annually, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) data released on World Tuberculosis Day. Pakistan accounts for 73% of the TB burden in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and ranks as the fifth most affected globally. Each day, Pakistan reports over 1,800 new TB cases and witnesses 140 deaths due to the disease, according to Dawn, a local daily.
The report highlights calls from the Pakistan government and WHO for increased investments to combat TB. Pakistan’s Federal Health Minister, Syed Mustafa Kamal, has affirmed the government’s dedication to eradicating TB through collaborative multisectoral efforts, sustainable funding, and a patient-centered approach involving communities and stakeholders.
WHO’s representative in Pakistan, Luo Dapeng, emphasized the preventable nature of TB-related deaths in Pakistan, stressing the curability of the disease. Dapeng expressed WHO’s commitment to supporting Pakistan and its partners in enhancing early detection and treatment accessibility for all individuals, irrespective of their location or status.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating TB control situation in the country. Despite the global theme of ‘Yes! We Can End TB,’ PMA noted systemic negligence, severe underfunding, and a scarcity of essential medications in Pakistan. Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, the PMA Secretary General, criticized the government’s inadequate focus on healthcare priorities, especially in combating TB, which continues to be a major health challenge in the country.
