National Health Accounts (NHA) Pakistan: A Gateway to Evidence-Based Health Policy
The National Health Accounts (NHA) serves as Pakistan's most comprehensive framework for systematically tracking health-related expenditures across public and private sectors. Compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the NHA aligns with globally recognized standards established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It provides critical insights into the financial flows within the healthcare system, addressing key questions such as the sources of funding, the mechanisms of resource distribution, and the nature of health services financed. Through this rigorous accounting framework, the NHA aims to foster transparency, enable cross-country comparability, and support informed decision-making to strengthen the nation’s health sector. By illuminating the financial health of the system, it acts as a pivotal tool for stakeholders, from policymakers and researchers to development partners and the general public, to understand and address the challenges in health financing and delivery.
Health Accounts Pakistan is compiled under the globally recognized System of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011 framework, a benchmark for international health expenditure analysis. This advanced framework anchors its methodology on three core classifications: Financing Schemes (integrating Financing Sources and Agents), Health Care Providers, and Health Care Functions. These pillars ensure a precise and systematic approach to tracking health expenditures, fostering unparalleled consistency, and enabling insightful comparisons both nationally and globally. By adopting SHA 2011, Pakistan’s health accounts set a robust foundation for evidence-based policymaking and resource allocation.
Highlights from theNHA Pakistan 2021-22 Report:
- Total Health Expenditure: Rs. 1,962 billion, marking a 34% increase from 2019-20.
- Per Capita Health Spending: Rs. 8,526 (US$ 48.05).
- Expenditure Allocation:
- 47% by the general government, including federal, provincial, and district entities.
- 52.6% through the private sector, with 89% out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures.
- 0.4% contributions from development partners and donors.
- Impact on GDP: Health expenditure constitutes 2.91% of Pakistan’s GDP.
Visit the PBS website to access the complete NHA report for 2021-22 and explore data-driven insights shaping Pakistan's health policies.
Publications
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2021-22
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2019-20
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2017-18
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2015-16
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2013-14
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2011-12
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2009-10
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2007-08
National Health Accounts Pakistan 2005-06
Contact Information
Deputy Director General, National Health Accounts
Statistics House, 21-Mauve Area, G-9/1, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9106550