World Health Day 2025: Bridging Gaps in Disability and Health in Pakistan
By Abid Lashari
As the world commemorates World Health Day on April 7, the focus in Pakistan must shift towards an inclusive and equitable healthcare system—especially for persons with disabilities who often remain marginalized in health initiatives. This year’s global health theme emphasizes “Health for All,” and in Pakistan, that means ensuring access, awareness, and action for people with disabilities.
Disability and Health: An Overlooked Link
In Pakistan, over 6 million people live with disabilities, many of whom face systemic neglect in accessing routine health services, rehabilitation, and preventive care. From delayed immunization to lack of disability-friendly infrastructure in hospitals, these challenges are particularly stark in underserved regions.
National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) Pakistan has emerged as a critical player addressing this gap. Operating four rehabilitation centers across Sindh—in Nawabshah, Larkana, Gulistan-e-Johar, and Gulshan-e-Hadeed Karachi—NDF provides free physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and remedial education to over 400 children with intellectual and physical disabilities. These services are funded through partnerships with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Government of Sindh, demonstrating a successful public-private model for inclusive health.
Polio Resurgence: A Growing Concern
While Sindh boasts a relatively strong healthcare network, with renowned institutions like NICVD, Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), SIUT, and the expanding Trauma centers network, the recent resurgence of polio cases in Sindh has alarmed health experts.
Despite multiple polio drives and the involvement of community health workers under the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) and EPI, vaccine refusals, misinformation, and lack of follow-up care have contributed to the problem. Many cases are reported in areas with high disability prevalence, showing a dangerous intersection between disability and weak immunization coverage.
Role of NGOs and Public Health Facilities
Several NGOs including NDF Pakistan, PDSA Karachi and other organizations are actively bridging these service gaps. Their focus on free rehabilitation services for the poor has lightened the burden on overstretched public hospitals. These NGOs, supported by DEPD Department Government of Sindh, work in tandem with public hospitals but often report issues of non-serious attitudes, and lack of trained staff in government-run health facilities.
Meanwhile, flagship public institutions such as SIUT, NICVD, GIMS, PPHI and others continue to provide world-class services at no cost, treating thousands of poor patients daily. Gambat’s GIMS has become a beacon of quality care in Pakistan, offering liver transplants and other advanced procedures free of cost.
The Way Forward
World Health Day should serve as a wake-up call. There is an urgent need to:
Strengthen disability-inclusive healthcare policies
Ensure mandatory disability-friendly training for healthcare staff
Boost immunization coverage with targeted campaigns in high-risk zones
Promote community-based rehabilitation centers as part of primary healthcare
Increase government oversight in public hospitals to ensure seriousness and empathy in service delivery.
Sindh has the infrastructure; what it needs now is coordinated action, sustained funding, and inclusive planning.
On this World Health Day, let’s commit to a healthier, more inclusive Pakistan where no one is left behind—especially those with disabilities.
