93pc of chronic pain patients never saw a pain-management specialist in Pakistan: study
A study in Pakistan reveals that 93% of chronic pain patients have never consulted a specialist, highlighting significant gaps in healthcare access. The research underscores the severe impact of untreated pain on daily life, sleep, and mental health.
Why it matters
The lack of dedicated pain-management services in hospitals contributes to a massive burden of disability and reduced quality of life for millions.
ISLAMABAD: Nearly 16 per cent of adults screened in a Pakistani study reported chronic pain, while 93 per cent of those affected had never consulted a pain-management specialist, highlighting serious gaps in awareness and access to care.
The study, published in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, identified 757 people with chronic pain among 4,801 participating adults. Only 16pc of those with chronic pain said their pain was completely controlled.
The effects extended beyond physical discomfort: 56pc said pain affected their daily activities, 58pc reported insomnia and 33pc said they had been diagnosed with depression. The findings show how persistent pain can disrupt everyday life while treatment needs remain unmet.
Brig Dr Asif Kiyani, a pain-management specialist in Rawalpindi, said limited public awareness of specialist pain services was a major barrier to patients seeking appropriate care.
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