Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has warned that nearly 10 million children aged between five and 15 in Pakistan are living with diabetes, linking the crisis to the country’s failure to take effective action against sugary drinks.
Speaking at the inauguration of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Health Services Academy, Kamal said Pakistan must move away from a treatment-focused healthcare model and shift toward disease prevention.
He said the rising burden of diabetes, hepatitis, heart disease and maternal mortality has turned public health into a national security issue. According to him, the healthcare system cannot improve unless the number of people falling sick is reduced through preventive policies, stronger primary healthcare and a trained medical workforce.
The minister said Pakistan continues to face major preventable health challenges, but effective steps to curb sugary beverage consumption have not been implemented. He also pointed to policy gaps, saying contraceptive medicines are taxed at 18 percent, while efforts to raise taxes on sugary drinks have not succeeded.
Kamal said around 6.2 million children are born in Pakistan every year, adding that rapid population growth is increasing pressure on healthcare, education and other public services.
Sharing key health figures, he said nearly 11,000 women die every year from pregnancy-related complications, while 11 million hepatitis patients are registered across the country. He added that one person dies from a heart attack every minute in Pakistan.
The minister said Pakistan’s healthcare challenges are not due to a lack of resources, but poor administration and ineffective governance. He noted that provinces received Rs. 8.6 trillion for development projects last year, but the real challenge is ensuring the efficient use of those funds.
Kamal also stressed the need for broader social reform, saying a good human being is more likely to become a good doctor, officer or minister.
He reiterated that the government is focusing on prevention, strengthening primary healthcare services and developing a skilled medical workforce to reduce the country’s disease burden.
