Page 34 - CMA Journal (May-June 2025)

Focus Section

6) Long Distance and Poor Transport - Access to and productivity then becomes a struggle for
healthcare in remote and rural areas remains a organizations. Strategic investment, technological
significant challenge. People end up in worse innovation, and infrastructure development are
conditions or even face death due to the long distance therefore inevitable in the healthcare industry.
to even the nearest facility. The underdeveloped roads 5) Risk of Disease Outbreak - The fragile healthcare
in these regions add to their misery, making it almost infrastructure puts Pakistan at risk of disease and virus
impossible to receive assistance during emergencies. outbreaks. It poses a great threat not only to people’s
More often than not, there are not enough healthcare lives but also to economic growth. With limited
centers in remote areas, and people must travel from diagnostic facilities, poor sanitation, and overcrowded
one location to another. Additionally, these facilities are hospitals, the spread of infectious diseases becomes
likely to have limited resources such as medicines, highly probable. To achieve business sustainability,
blood sampling, or scanning equipment. This not only Pakistan must take radical measures to strengthen its
leads to delayed care but also causes patients to suffer. healthcare systems. A vigorous and dynamic healthcare
infrastructure is essential for economic stability and
Impact of Healthcare Deficiencies on
long-term business resilience.
Business Sustainability 6) Reduced Competitiveness - The existing condition of
Poor healthcare infrastructure substantially undermines Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure hinders the
business sustainability due to workforce incompetence, country’s position in the national and international
rising operational expenditure, and impeded overall landscape. Employees who are unable to access basic
economic prosperity. healthcare weaken the overall workforce’s well-being,
1) Shortage of Educated Paramedics - Nurses and productivity, and motivation. A robust healthcare
paramedical staff are the support pillars of a country’s system not only fosters employee well-being but also
healthcare system. WHO published a health workforce lays the foundation for a high-performing and
profile of Pakistan in 2020, which reported an alarming competitive ecosystem.
critical shortage of nurses. It further stated that only 5% Final Thoughts
of nursing staff are university graduates, holding a
Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree or higher. This is a Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure remains a significant
shocking statistic considering the ever-growing need concern in the pursuit of business sustainability. Factors
for nursing and paramedical personnel. The shortage of such as limited government expenditure and funding,
staff is primarily caused by a lack of attractive incentives inadequate medical education and training, scarcity of
for healthcare professionals, leading to absenteeism medical and paramedical staff, the national energy crisis,
and brain drain. and disparities among rural communities all contribute to
the ongoing challenges.
2) Increased Cost - Poor medical infrastructure adds to
rising healthcare costs. Often, public healthcare centers The inadequacy of the healthcare system deters foreign
are either overcrowded, understaffed, or lack basic investment, hinders talent attraction and retention,
equipment, which forces patients to opt for expensive increases operational costs and the risk of disease
private clinics. Remote and rural regions are particularly outbreaks, and undermines the growth potential and
affected. Inadequate facilities mean traveling to nearby competitiveness of the industry. It is high time for governing
villages or cities for basic medical needs, bearing bodies and medical boards to sincerely contribute to the
additional transport and lodging expenses. The system prosperity of this sector. Preventive strategies must be
is further hampered by the deficiency of preventive developed, competitive goals set, and improvement plans
care and a well-organized record-keeping mechanism. implemented to attract investors and top talent. Embracing
the latest medical technologies is also essential to
3) Deters Foreign Investment - Pakistan, unfortunately, maintaining a competitive edge in the region.
has a healthcare system that is not at par with
international standards. As a result, there is a lack of Sources:
https://finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_25/11_Health_and_Nutrition.pdf
foreign investment in this sector. Investors view the https://spinetimes.pk/overcoming-the-odds-business-challenges-in-pakistan/
availability of quality healthcare as a key indicator when
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/01/27/poverty-of-healthcare-infrastructur
assessing potential markets. International investors, e-in-pakistan/
therefore, lack confidence in sending their workforce or https://www.cureus.com/articles/161591-healthcare-in-pakistan-navigating-challe
initiating business relationships in countries with nges-and-building-a-brighter-future#!/
unreliable healthcare systems. https://pjmr.org.pk/index.php/pjmr/article/view/843#:~:text=Many%20healthcare%
20facilities%20across%20the,inadequate%20staffing%2C%20and%20insufficient%
Healthcare businesses are further stalled due to a lack 20funding.&text=This%20shortage%20of%20resources%20hinders,in%20rural%20
of public-private partnerships and shaky investor and%20underserved%20areas
confidence. The result is stagnant economic growth, no About the Author: The writer is a Fellow Member of ICMA currently
innovation, and an uncertain future. serves as Director Risk Management & Costing at Patel Hospital,
Karachi. He is also serving as Member of EC-Finance Committee at
4) Hindrance in Talent Attraction and Retention- Skilled Patel Hospital. He possesses over 24 years of experience across
professionals are reluctant to take up roles in areas with diverse industries like hospital and healthcare, food and retail, and
minimal or no healthcare services. Access to quality the garment sector. His areas of expertise include business
medical facilities is a defining factor for top talent when transformation and automation, risk management, internal
deciding whether to accept a job offer. Businesses in controls, performance analysis, financial management,
management accounting, budgeting and costing, etc. He is
those regions face high employee turnover rates and pursuing an MBA (Healthcare) from the Institute of Business &
increased hiring costs. Maintaining business continuity Health at the Dow University of Health Sciences.
32 ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, May-June 2025