PAKISTAN is facing an alarming rise in patients. In recent years, even expensive hospitals are overflowing. People stand in long queues, spending millions individually and billions collectively each year just to recover. In laboratories, patients wait for hours. Medical stores remain packed all day. The question is not just how many are sick, but why so many are falling ill at younger ages.

The disease burden has gone far beyond seasonal flu. We now see bone and joint problems in youth, widespread diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney failure and cancer. Hepatitis B and C, eye-sight weakness, skin allergies, asthma, TB, anxiety, depression and digestive disorders are also increasing.

Communicable diseases remain a major threat. Dengue, malaria, typhoid, cholera and diarrhea surge........

© Pakistan Observer