According to the estimate of the Chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry at the Aga Khan

University, it is estimated that about 50 million people are suffering from mental health issues in
Pakistan. (1)

Despite these huge numbers, only 0.4% of the total health care expenditure has been allocated for the
mental health sector. Secondly, only 27% of the training for medical doctors is assigned to mental
health. According to a report on Pakistan’s mental health by WHO, Pakistan’s mental health plan and
policy were last revised in 2003. A mental health plan, policy and legislation have been drawn up but are
currently have not been executed. Since Pakistan is a developing country, it lacks sufficient resources
for a well-established healthcare system. The social insurance schemes cover none of the mental health
disorders. (2)

Pakistan’s public healthcare management has been active only in cases of infectious diseases that affect
a large number of people at one time and may elevate rates of morbidity and mortality. However, for
suffering due to mental illness, Pakistan’s healthcare system has mostly remained inactive. The public
healthcare programs devised to gather a massive amount of funds tend be those that can gain
recognition as success stories of bringing down high rates of mortality and morbidity. On the contrary,
there is no effort being made for chronic mental illnesses that may take time to produce results. (3)
There is a massive gap between the requirement of treatment of mental health issues and the
assets available. In Pakistan there are only about 478 psychologists and only 342 psychiatrists,
according to a survey conducted in 2009. Thus, there is a shortage of proffesionals throughout the
country. This is because psychiatry is not a preferred profession. A survey conducted in 2011 states, out
of 771 students from 4 public medical colleges, only 13.1% showed preference to psychology. (3)

This means that there are less than 3,000 psychiatrist inpatient beds facilities for the population of
about 190 million, and only four major psychiatric hospitals in the country which are associated with
mental health outpatient facilities. (4) Out of the 3729 outpatient mental health facilities available in the
country, only 1% is for children and adolescents. (2)

Out of these meagre numbers of psychiatrists, 45% work for government operated mental health
services; 51% work either only for NGOs, or for profit mental health facilities, or private practice, while
4% work for both the sectors. (2) Nearly all of these professionals are in the large cities despite the fact
that most of our population belongs to the rural areas. In Baluchistan, the largest province of
Pakistan, in terms of area, there is no female psychiatrist available. (5)

In addition to the lack of professionals, psychiatric treatment can be very expensive and out of reach of
the general public. Amount charged for a single consultation varies from 500 to 10000 rupees, while the
cost of medication is also very high. (3) The price of antipsychotic drugs is 3%, and antidepressant
medication is 7% of the minimum daily stipend in the domestic currency. (2)

Because of the popular misbelief about mental health, and the stigma attached to mental health
patients, the current hospital-based mental healthcare facilities are inadequately utilized. (5)

Another problem with the mental healthcare facilities in Pakistan is, religious figures are a significant
source of mental health services. This is the most extensively used source of mental health service
delivery. One of the main reasons for this is, low cost and easy accessibility, and almost no stigma or fear
of being judged. (4)
Despite the inadequate mental healthcare facilities in Pakistan, there have been some developments in
the mental healthcare sector. In the last five years, public education and awareness campaigns have
been promoted by Government agencies (e.g., Ministry of Health or Department of mental health
services); NGOs; professional associations, private trusts; and foundations, International agencies. (2)

Many NGO’s and other organizations have been providing free treatment to eligible patients. For
example, Karwan e Hayat has treated more than 90% of eligible, deprived mentally ill patients. The
treatment consisted of psychiatric consultation, medication, hospitalization, nursing, daycare,
rehabilitation and meals. (6) Furthermore, some of the mental health facilities have been moved from
mental asylums to teaching hospitals, intending to reach sufferers at their door-steps. (5)
Sources:

1 https://tribune.com.pk/story/1858972/6-taking-mental-health-seriously/ , website
2 https://www.who.int/mental_health/pakistan_who_aims_report.pdf , print
3 https://www.dawn.com/news/1448391 , website
4 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/fc8d/6602c48434f42986e1d9be273701084f0da6.pdf , print
5 https://jpma.org.pk/article-details/1386 , website
6 https://keh.org.pk/about-us/#ourmission , website
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