Quetta, April 13 (NationPress) In a stark revelation regarding the dire health crisis in Pakistan's most expansive province, Balochistan's Health Secretary Mujeebur Rehman has disclosed that over 80% of the population in this region is deprived of essential primary healthcare services.

Rehman's observation indicates that fewer than a quarter of Balochistan's residents can access an ambulance for hospital transport, consult a general practitioner for diagnosis, or receive basic outpatient care. An editorial from Pakistan’s prominent newspaper, 'The Express Tribune', elaborates on the various factors that have led to the deterioration of the healthcare system in Balochistan.

According to 'The Express Tribune', "Numerous elements within the province have converged to create a failing healthcare system. A significant factor is the province's geography; its vast land area coupled with a sparse population density makes it challenging to establish effective health infrastructure for widely scattered communities."

The majority of Balochistan's top hospitals are concentrated in Quetta, the region's most populous city, which is a full day's journey by road from Turbat, the province's second largest city. However, geography is not the sole issue.

Balochistan's Health Secretary has noted that in the past eighteen months, 15 significant reforms have been implemented in the healthcare sector. Yet, as highlighted by the newspaper, "One must question whether the initial reform was effectively executed before proceeding with the subsequent fourteen. Until there is rigorous accountability and proficient management, the region risks enduring another decade of superficial progress and false improvement."

A recent media report pointed out that Balochistan continues to grapple with alarmingly high rates of maternal, infant, and neonatal mortality, largely due to insufficient healthcare access, a critical shortage of skilled birth attendants, prevalent malnutrition, early marriages, and inadequate medical facilities.

The majority of these fatalities are preventable, arising from complications such as excessive bleeding, infections, and the absence of timely, appropriate care for mothers and their newborns, as reported by 'Pakistan Today'.

Despite slight improvements in mortality rates in recent years, the situation remains deeply troubling, with many women still giving birth without trained medical support, especially in rural and remote areas where health facilities are either nonexistent or poorly equipped.