What we do
Healthcare for women, children and newborns is a serious concern in Pakistan and remains our priority there. Women in rural areas die from preventable complications during pregnancy and delivery, and neonatal care is unavailable in many areas. According to the 2017-8 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, 1 in every 14 children dies before the age of five.
- Pakistan
Access to healthcare remains a challenge in Pakistan, especially for people in rural communities, informal settlements and areas affected by conflict.
Why are we here?
Healthcare for women, children and newborns
The availability of free, high-quality medical care is limited for women and children, particularly in rural areas. We work in four different locations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces to provide reproductive, neonatal and paediatric care. Local communities, Afghan refugees and people who cross the border from Afghanistan to seek medical assistance benefit from our comprehensive 24-hour emergency obstetric services, which include surgery and referrals for complicated cases. We also run inpatient and outpatient therapeutic feeding programmes for severely malnourished children in Balochistan.
Endemic Diseases
Cutaneous leishmaniasis, a disease transmitted by the bite of a sandfly, is endemic in parts of Pakistan. The disease is characterised by disfiguring and painful lesions. We run five treatment centres for this disease; three in Quetta, Balochistan, one in Bannu and one in Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Our teams offer diagnosis, treatment, health education and counselling. Globally, Pakistan is one of the countries with the highest number of hepatitis C cases. MSF has been running a clinic for Hepatitis C virus in Machar Colony, a densely populated informal settlement in Karachi. In 2023 alone MSF started 1, 942 people on antiviral treatment specifically designed for hepatitis C virus. Pakistan also ranks fifth among the high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries, and sixth when it comes to drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB). Since 2021, MSF has been working in close collaboration with Punjab health authorities to offer free diagnosis and treatment services to DRTB patients at the programmatic management of DRTB site (PMDT) in Gujranwala district.
Emergency Response
MSF supports the Pakistani authorities with emergency response preparedness in case of disease outbreaks or natural disasters. When Pakistan was hit by catastrophic flooding in mid-2022, MSF launched emergency activities to assist the millions of people affected by it. We reoriented our existing programmes and expanded our activities to respond to the emergency in the worst hit areas in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa and Sindh provinces providing healthcare and addressing specifically severe acute malnutrition, alongside ongoing the malaria outbreak with treatment and prevention. Our emergency activities continued in 2023 as well.
In 2024
In 2024, MSF continued its efforts to provide essential healthcare services to vulnerable communities across Pakistan.
In Dadu district, Sindh, MSF provided healthcare to flood-hit communities, including treatment for malnutrition, malaria, and cutaneous leishmaniasis. These activities were carried out until November, when they were successfully handed over to the health authorities.
In north Sindh and east Balochistan, MSF operated mobile clinics, offering healthcare to children and pregnant and lactating women until June. Services included treatment for malaria and malnutrition, as well as the distribution of therapeutic food and mosquito nets. MSF also worked to improve water and sanitation in these areas. Throughout the year, MSF provided reproductive, neonatal, and paediatric care at three locations in Balochistan, serving both local communities and Afghan refugees. This included emergency obstetric services, nutrition programmes, and patient referrals.
MSF’s cutaneous leishmaniasis programme saw a sharp increase in patient numbers across all five clinics in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in 2024. The programme focused on diagnosis, treatment, mental health support, and ongoing clinical research to develop better treatment options.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, MSF continued to provide general healthcare consultations in Tirah Valley, Khyber district, for both local residents and people who had resettled in the area.
In Karachi, Sindh, MSF concluded its one-year intervention at Baldia rural health centre in July. The project aimed to introduce a hepatitis C care model that could be implemented at the general healthcare level. Following the conclusion of the project, the centre was designated as a ‘sentinel site’ for hepatitis C. Additionally, MSF strengthened hepatitis C screening in Machar Colony, continuing to provide diagnosis and treatment to the mostly undocumented residents through its clinic there.
In Gujranwala, Punjab, MSF focused on diagnosing and treating drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). In 2024, MSF implemented shorter treatment regimens, which improved patient outcomes and adherence. MSF also reinforced its patient-centred approach by establishing support groups, conducting home visits, and providing follow-up consultations to ensure continuity of care.
