1. Major Reform: The “URAAN Pakistan” Initiative
The federal government has recently approved a series of high-impact health projects under the URAAN Pakistan social sector initiative.
- Sehat Sahulat Program (Restored): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially relaunched the health card scheme on January 16, 2026, for 10 million residents in Islamabad, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The program aims to reduce out-of-pocket medical costs by 60%.
- Jinnah Hospital Expansion: A Rs15.9 billion project is underway to upgrade the Federal Polyclinic-II in Islamabad, increasing capacity to 400 beds and integrating modern IT and solar energy systems by 2027.
2. Public Health Emergencies & Warnings
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) released a stark annual report on February 13, 2026, calling for a National Health Emergency.
- Water & Disease: Contaminated water is now linked to 40% of all annual deaths in Pakistan. The report highlights an alarming rise in X-DR Typhoid (extensively drug-resistant) in Sindh.
- HIV Epidemic: Pakistan is facing the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the region, with new infections rising by 200% over the last 15 years.
- Medicine Shortages: There is a documented shortage of 80 essential life-saving drugs, including insulin, primarily due to pricing and supply chain friction.