1 week Ago
The recent expert warning regarding Pakistan’s critically low capacity for autism diagnosis, as reported, demands urgent and serious attention. With an increasing number of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases being reported across the country, the absence of timely diagnosis, awareness, and skilled intervention threatens to evolve into a full-scale healthcare crisis — one eerily reminiscent of the ongoing polio saga. Without early diagnosis and structured support, thousands of children are likely to be left vulnerable, with long-term consequences for not just their individual futures but the country’s social and economic fabric as a whole.
We perceive that ignoring autism today will result in short-term challenges such as misdiagnosis, social stigma, and marginalisation of families. In the long term, it could burden an already stretched healthcare system, increase dependency rates, and stifle the potential of countless young Pakistanis who could otherwise have thrived with appropriate support. Training professionals is not just a recommendation — it is a necessity.
A national strategy must include partnerships with countries that have made significant strides in autism research and care. Knowledge sharing, exposure to global best practices, and updating curriculum standards for psychologists, therapists, and paediatricians are vital first steps. It is heartening to see pockets of activism trying to highlight the issue, but we hope that a pre-emptive, state-led plan is put in place before the situation spirals out of control.
Otherwise, much like polio, Pakistan risks being labelled yet again as the unfortunate outlier on the global health map. And while polio can be vaccinated against, ignorance towards neurodevelopmental disorders cannot be cured with a simple jab. Prevention, preparation, and proactive policymaking are the only ways forward.
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