Pakistan

Blindness in Pakistan

Pakistan, a country to the northwest of India, is the fifth-most populous country in the world. With such a large population, the government has struggled greatly with providing widespread healthcare to its citizens. The World Health Organization reported that Pakistan is listed as one of 57 countries that experience a shortage in the healthcare workforce. With greater demand than supply in healthcare, many cannot receive the care that they need. There are also problems with policy and implementation of healthcare across the country.

One of the greatest challenges that Pakistan faces regarding healthcare is the poor distribution of doctors in rural areas. Most doctors choose to practice in cities and in the private sector, so many Pakistanis cannot afford or access medical care.

Blindness is a serious problem in Pakistan. The Third National Survey of Blindness (2019-2021) states that it is estimated that over 484,000 people are blind in Pakistan, and around 9 million people are experiencing some form of vision impairment. According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 85-90% of these cases are treatable and/or avoidable, so it is crucial that services be made available to people of all incomes, backgrounds, and ages. The leading cause of blindness in Pakistan is cataracts, which are easily treatable in most cases.