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Pakistan 

In Pakistan, access to basic healthcare remains a luxury for many. The stark reality is that a significant portion of the population grapples with the unavailability of primary medical services and essential medications. A recent report by The News International sheds light on the dire circumstances faced by individuals like Muhammad Boota, a domestic worker in Lahore, whose survival depends on regular insulin injections. With each dose costing a substantial portion of his meager income, Boota represents the plight of millions who find themselves at the mercy of sporadic charitable donations for life-saving medicines.

According to the findings of Sehat Kahani, over half of Pakistanis lack access to fundamental healthcare services, while approximately 42 percent remain devoid of health coverage. The situation worsened earlier this year when the government raised the prices of 146 essential medicines, exacerbating the financial strain on lower-income households.

One of the underlying causes of this healthcare crisis is the gross inadequacy of government funding. Pakistan allocates a mere 0.84 percent of its GDP to healthcare, a stark decrease from previous years and significantly below the average expenditure of other lower-middle-income countries. As per The News International's report, Pakistan ranks dismally low - 176th out of 189 countries - in terms of government spending on healthcare relative to its economic size.

The lack of prioritization of healthcare funding by the government has left millions of Pakistanis vulnerable to health-related emergencies. In response, calls have been made by human rights organizations to enshrine the Right to Health as a constitutional right, highlighting the urgency of addressing this pressing issue.

Beyond the healthcare sector, Pakistan grapples with a myriad of challenges, including rampant poverty, soaring inflation, and high unemployment rates. Even before the current economic turmoil, the country faced crises in various domains, further exacerbating the plight of its citizens.

The repercussions of these challenges extend beyond healthcare, affecting vital indicators of well-being such as nutrition, infant mortality, and access to basic amenities like electricity. Reports indicate that a significant portion of the population suffers from undernourishment, while a distressing number of children face stunted growth. Moreover, the mortality rate among young children remains alarmingly high, reflecting systemic failures in ensuring basic healthcare access for all.

In addition to these socio-economic challenges, Pakistan is grappling with the devastating impacts of climate change, further exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.

In conclusion, Pakistan's healthcare crisis is a multifaceted challenge that demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from policymakers, stakeholders, and civil society. Addressing this crisis requires not only increased government funding but also systemic reforms to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all citizens. Until concrete measures are taken to address these systemic inadequacies, millions of Pakistanis will continue to suffer the consequences of an ailing healthcare system, perpetuating a cycle of hardship and deprivation.