Ministry of National Health Services data presented in the National Assembly also reveals provincial figures for registered psychiatrists and reported AIDS patients across Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: More than 32 million people in Pakistan are affected by mental health disorders, while the country has only 1,050 registered psychiatrists, according to figures presented by the Ministry of National Health Services in the National Assembly.
Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, submitted by the ministry, shows that approximately 32.04 million people in Pakistan are living with mental health conditions, highlighting the scale of the country’s mental health challenges and the shortage of qualified specialists.
According to the ministry, Islamabad had around 300,000 people suffering from mental health conditions as of 2023.
The figures also reveal a significant imbalance in the distribution of registered psychiatrists across the country, with Punjab having the highest number of specialists among the provinces.
Punjab has 406 registered psychiatrists, followed by Sindh with 228. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 122, while Balochistan has just 44 registered psychiatrists.
Overall, Pakistan has approximately one psychiatrist for every 245,400 people, according to the reported figures, highlighting the limited availability of specialised mental health professionals relative to the country’s population.
The shortage raises concerns about access to professional diagnosis, treatment and other mental health services, particularly for people living in areas with limited healthcare facilities.
The figures also point to challenges in strengthening the country’s mental health infrastructure and expanding the availability of trained professionals to meet the needs of affected communities.
The data presented in the National Assembly provides an overview of the reported mental health burden and the distribution of psychiatric specialists, drawing attention to the gap between the number of people affected and the available medical workforce.
AIDS patients reported across provinces
Separately, the Ministry of National Health Services provided provincial figures for registered AIDS patients in Pakistan.
According to the ministry, the country has 3,900 registered AIDS patients, with Sindh reporting the highest number at 1,915.
Punjab recorded 1,765 registered patients, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 139 and Balochistan 46.
The figures further show that Islamabad has 30 registered AIDS patients, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir has four. Gilgit-Baltistan reported one patient.
The provincial breakdown provides an overview of the reported distribution of registered AIDS patients across the country.
Together, the figures highlight two important healthcare challenges facing Pakistan: the reported burden of mental health conditions and the availability of specialised medical services, alongside the provincial distribution of registered AIDS patients.
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