Inflation in Pakistan fell to 2.4 % in January, which represents its lowest rate in more than nine years, according to the latest data from the Pakistani Statistics Office (PBS).
Despite this positive trend in inflation in general, healthcare costs continued to rise sharply, which increases financial pressure on consumers.
The PBS report revealed that the medical test fees increased by 5.36 % in January compared to December, which increased a 15.16 % slope on an annual basis. The fees for the public clinic and the specialized clinic increased by 4.28 %, while dental services witnessed a monthly increase by 2.22 %, which led to a significant increase of 26.16 % compared to the same period last year.
Hospital fees increased by 0.36 % in January alone, while drug prices saw a monthly increase by 0.52 %, up to 17.48 % during the past year. In general, healthcare expenses increased by 1.27 % in January, increasing families who are already struggling with the high cost of living.
Analysts warn that despite the slowdown of inflation, the continuous rise in health care costs negatively affects the physical and mental luxury of the financial financial public. In Pakistan, many people, especially children and the elderly, are forced to abandon basic medical care due to the inability to access basic health care services, driven by poverty and high medical costs.
The slowdown in inflation is mainly due to the favorable basic effects and the stability of food and energy prices. However, though, the terrestrial reality still represents a challenge for consumers who continue to deal with the escalating costs of basic services, especially health care.
