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Pakistan's TB Crisis: 140 Daily Deaths Reveal Healthcare Emergency

The latest WHO data reveals a severe tuberculosis crisis in Pakistan, where 140 people die from the disease every day and over 1,800 new cases emerge. Pakistan holds the unenviable position of the fifth highest TB-burden country globally, with nearly 686,000 new cases annually. Health authorities and the Pakistan Medical Association warn of systemic neglect, severe underfunding, and critical shortages of life-saving medicines. The WHO and government officials urge coordinated action and investment to end the preventable and curable epidemic.

Key Points: Pakistan TB Crisis: 140 Daily Deaths, WHO Data Reveals

  • 140 daily TB deaths in Pakistan
  • Over 1,800 new cases reported daily
  • Pakistan is 5th highest TB-burden globally
  • Systemic neglect and medicine shortages cited
2 min read

Pakistan: 140 people die from tuberculosis every single day, latest WHO data reveals

WHO data shows Pakistan is the 5th highest TB-burden country, with 140 daily deaths and over 1,800 new cases daily. Health leaders call for urgent action.

"In Pakistan, every 10 minutes, one person dies from tuberculosis. These deaths are preventable because tuberculosis is curable. - Luo Dapeng, WHO representative in Pakistan"

Islamabad, March 26

More than 669,000 people are affected by Tuberculosis in Pakistan which causes 51,000 deaths in a year, local media in the country reported citing the latest stats revealed by the World Health Organisation on World Tuberculosis Day. Pakistan holds a 73 per cent share of the TB burden within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and is the fifth most affected in the world. Each day, more than 1,800 new cases are reported in Pakistan and 140 people die from tuberculosis, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported.

The report mentions that Pakistan government and WHO have urged all partners to invest in ending TB. Pakistan's Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal expressed government's commitment to end TB through coordinated multisectoral actions, sustainable domestic financing and a patient-centred approach with participation of the communities and all stakeholders.

"In Pakistan, every 10 minutes, one person dies from tuberculosis. These deaths are preventable because tuberculosis is curable. Ending tuberculosis is not just aspirational; it is achievable. WHO will stand with Pakistan and its partners to continue to intensify early detection and treatment for all, no matter where they live or who they are," said Luo Dapeng, the WHO representative in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has voiced grave concern over the worsening state of TB control in the country. It claimed that despite the global theme 'Yes! We Can End TB', the reality on the ground in Pakistan reveals systemic neglect, severe underfunding and a shortage of life-saving medicines.

"Pakistan continues to hold the unenviable position of being the fifth highest TB-burden country globally, with nearly 686,000 new cases and 49,000 deaths recorded annually. Yet, the government's commitment to the health sector remains disappointingly low on the list of national priorities," Dawn quoted PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro as saying.

He said, "It is a mockery of our healthcare system that while we talk of 'ending the epidemic,' standard TB medicines are frequently unavailable for adults, and the shortage of pediatric formulations is even more acute. We are failing our children. You cannot fight a bacterial war without ammunition."

TB is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and it most often impacts the lungs. TB is spread through the air when a person with lung TB cough, sneezes or spits, according to WHO. An individual needs to inhale only a few germs to become infected.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
The part about the shortage of pediatric formulations is especially devastating. "We are failing our children" – that line hits hard. This is a completely preventable and curable disease. Where is the government's allocation? This isn't just a health issue, it's a fundamental failure of governance.
R
Rohit P
A very sobering read. TB doesn't respect borders, and with such a high burden right next door, it underscores why our own TB elimination programs in India need to be relentless. Our government's Nikshay portal and efforts are steps in the right direction. We must learn from others' struggles and double down on our commitment. 🙏
P
Priyanka N
The minister talks of "patient-centred approach" but the doctors on the ground say there's no medicine. Talk is cheap. This shows a massive disconnect between policy announcements and actual implementation. Basic drug availability should be the absolute minimum. Feel for the ordinary people suffering.
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Michael C
As someone who has worked in global health, these numbers are a catastrophic failure. The WHO rep is right – it's achievable. But it requires political will above all else. When a country's priorities are elsewhere, its people pay the price with their lives. A tragic, man-made disaster.
K
Kavya N
Beyond politics, this is a human tragedy. Imagine losing a family member every 10 minutes to a curable disease. My heart goes out to the families affected. I hope international agencies can bypass the red tape and get medicines directly to the people who need them. Humanity first.

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