Economic Survey: Health and nutrition sectors post strong progress

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health and nutrition sectors have recorded significant progress during recent years, supported by sustained government interventions, reforms and policies aimed at strengthening human capital and advancing universal health coverage (UHC), revealed the 2025-26 Economic Survey released here on Thursday.

The economic survey revealed that in 2026, key health indicators improved, with life expectancy rising to 67.8 years, immunization coverage increasing to 73 percent, and reductions observed in neonatal and infant mortality rates.

Significant initiatives were undertaken to modernize and expand healthcare delivery, including the development of the National Digital Health Hub, implementation of the Pakistan Multi-sectoral Health Workforce-Strategy, expansion of disease control programmes for diabetes and Hepatitis-C, strengthening of nursing and midwifery services and continued investments in cancer treatment infrastructure. Provincial governments also accelerated reforms through expanded healthcare infrastructure, digital monitoring systems, human resource development and targeted service delivery programmes.

On the nutrition front, Pakistan continued efforts to address malnutrition, stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, and food insecurity through coordinated multi-sectoral interventions. The government programmes such as the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, National Multi-sectoral Nutrition Programme, SOPRAN initiative, and Pak-Korea Nutrition Center strengthened maternal and child nutrition services, anemia reduction efforts, and nutrition awareness.

Pakistan’s healthcare system comprises public and private sectors, with the government being the primary provider of preventive and basic healthcare services, while the private sector contributes significantly to curative care. Various national health programmes have been launched to address major health issues such as maternal and child health, immunization, nutrition and disease control. Pakistan has made significant progress in key health indicators, reflecting sustained improvements in healthcare delivery and public health outcomes. During the period under review, Pakistan recorded steady gains across major health indicators. Life expectancy at birth increased from 66.5 years in 2018 to 67.8 years in 2024, while the prevalence of HIV remained stable at 0.2 percent. The incidence of tuberculosis remained broadly stable, whereas maternal health improved considerably. As per PDHS/PMMS (2019), maternal health also improved, with the maternal mortality ratio declining from 276 to 186 per 100,000 live births. As per Pakistan Social Living Standard Measurement Surveys (PSLM), notable progress is also observed in child health, as immunization coverage rose from 68 percent in 2018–19 to 73percent in 2024–25, alongside reductions in neonatal mortality from 41 to 35 per 1,000 live births and infant mortality from 60 to 47 per 1,000 live births. Overall, these improvements highlight meaningful advancements in maternal and child healthcare and strengthened public health services in Pakistan.

According to the survey, in 2025, there were 336,582 registered doctors and 42,118 registered dentists, compared to 319,572 doctors and 39,088 dentists in 2024,which reflects an increase in the number of registered doctors and dentists by 5.3 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively.

The survey said that in FY2025, health expenditure increased by 1.9percent, reaching Rs 942.2 billion compared to Rs 924.9 billion in FY 2024. In Pakistan, health expenditure as a percentage of GDP is currently low, though the allocation is anticipated to gradually increase in the years ahead. Of the Rs942.2 billion health expenditures, the federal government spent Rs75.25 billion, Punjab Rs363.48 billion, Sindh Rs252.9 billion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Rs175 billion and Balochistan Rs75.5 billion.

Food availability indicators showed moderate improvement in calories and key food groups during FY 2026, although rising food costs and changing dietary patterns continued to affect household nutrition outcomes. Provincial governments implemented a broad range of nutrition-sensitive programmes covering maternal and child health, school feeding, WASH, agriculture, livestock, and food security.

Despite continued challenges relative to regional benchmarks, Pakistan’s ongoing investments in healthcare systems, nutrition interventions, digitalization, and institutional reforms demonstrate a strong commitment toward achieving SDG-3 targets and improving the overall population’s health and nutrition well-being.

Food availability is a key determinant of nutritional outcomes, as an adequate and diverse food supply at the national level is essential for meeting the dietary needs of the population. Per capita availability of major food items over the past three fiscal years reveals notable shifts. During FY 2026, the availability of major food items indicated moderate improvements in overall dietary supply. Per capita cereals availability, while slightly higher than 2024-25, remains below the level recorded in 2023-24.

The availability of milk showed a notable increase over both preceding years, alongside incremental gains in pulses, meat, fish and eggs. Edible oil/ghee availability continued its upward trend, while fruits and vegetables remained broadly stable, with a marginal decline from the previous year but still higher than 2023-24 levels. Overall, calorie availability improved to 2,550 kcal per capita per day compared to 2024-25.

The cost of a minimum food basket per capita per month started at Rs5,632 in July 2025, which rose steadily through the latter months of 2025, reaching a peak of Rs6,417 in October 2025, an increase of nearly 14percent over just three months. By March 2026,the cost decreased to Rs5,813, though it remained above the July 2025 baseline. Overall, the price of the food basket increased by 3.2 percent between July 2025 and March 2026.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026