Karachi — The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on February 13, 2026, launched its annual report “Health of the Nation 2026,” warning that Pakistan continues to face severe and preventable health challenges, including high neonatal and maternal mortality, widespread water contamination, rising HIV infections, and toxic air pollution affecting nearly the entire population.
The report, unveiled at PMA House, described the country’s health status as alarming, with preventable diseases claiming thousands of lives annually and placing immense strain on an already overburdened healthcare system.
Key Highlights
- Pakistan loses 675 newborns and 27 mothers daily from preventable causes.
- Contaminated water causes nearly 40% of annual deaths and 30% of all diseases.
- Diarrhoea remains leading killer of infants and young children.
- Pakistan has highest global burden of Hepatitis C and Asia’s highest breast cancer rates.
- XDR typhoid spreading in Karachi and interior Sindh due to contaminated water.
- New HIV infections up 200% in 15 years (16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024).
- 350,000 people living with HIV; 80% unaware of status.
- Shortage of 80 essential life-saving drugs, including insulin.
- Air pollution now a public health emergency across the country.
The report highlighted that poor water quality contributes to 30 per cent of nationwide diseases, with diarrhoea the leading cause of death among infants and young children. Every fifth Pakistani suffers from a water-related illness, it noted.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Dr. Abdur Rehman, Director PIMA Relief, visited PIMA Mansehra Hospital, reviewed departments, and met with doctors. He reaffirmed PIMA’s commitment to upgrading the hospital to provide quality healthcare services for the local community. <a href=”https://t.co/L1T6KyEB8a”>pic.twitter.com/L1T6KyEB8a</a></p>— Pakistan Islamic Medical Association – PIMA (@PIMAofficial) <a href=”https://twitter.com/PIMAofficial/status/2020821122837835843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>February 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
An alarming rise in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid in Karachi and parts of interior Sindh was attributed to contaminated water and food, worsened by overuse of antibiotics and unregulated sales, making the disease harder to treat.HIV infections are growing fastest in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, with 350,000 people living with the virus — nearly eight in 10 unaware of their status. Recent outbreaks in multiple districts were linked to unsafe injections and blood transfusions at health facilities.
Medicine shortages have reached crisis levels, with 80 essential life-saving drugs — including insulin — unavailable. PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro described the situation as “economic assassination of the poor,” where families are forced to choose between food and life-saving treatment.
Air pollution, once seen as an environmental issue, is now a full-blown public health emergency, contributing to respiratory diseases nationwide.
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PMA Calls for National Health Emergency
Dr Shoro demanded that the government declare a national health emergency to address these challenges. He urged an immediate increase in the health budget to at least 3 per cent of GDP, a freeze on prices of life-saving medicines, a crackdown on black-market profiteering, and declaration of clean drinking water as a national security priority to break the cycle of hepatitis and typhoid epidemics.
He also called for integrating environmental protection into health policy to combat air pollution and water-borne diseases.
The report underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms, increased funding, and decisive action to reverse Pakistan’s deteriorating health indicators and protect vulnerable populations from preventable deaths and suffering. The PMA vowed to continue advocating for these measures to safeguard public health and ensure equitable access to care across the country.
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