Role of CRVS in Pakistan

1. 1. Pakistan like several other countries of the region do not have credible registration of births and deaths, and lack in reporting complete and accurate cause of death data. Unfortunately, information disaggregated by age, gender, location and/or socioeconomic status is also not available like for many developing nations.


2. 2. Pakistan has been identified as one of the six priority countries by UNESCAP, which has been identified as a priority country where the CRVS strengthening would be undertaken during coming years. Given the fact that the subject of CRVS is multidisciplinary in nature, the task of overall coordination for CRVS development has been assignment to Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms. This ministry in close coordination with Provincial Departments, NADRA, the WHO country and regional offices, Plan international, UNICEF and other partners organized 'Rapid and Comprehensive Assessments of the CRVS" in Pakistan mainly to realize the current status of CRVS implementation in Pakistan.


3. 3. These studies have revealed serious weaknesses in our CRVS. National data for birth and death registration are exceptionally low. Where only 30% births are being recorded with almost no death registration mechanisms. Cause of death information is lacking and ICD- 10 for coding cases of deaths in hospitals is not being practices. Resultantly, very little vital statistics generated from the civil registration systems and country has thus obliged to resort to expensive and tedious community based surveys (Population census, DHS and MICs etc).


4. 4. These assessments called for the promotion of CRVS in the country with formation of strong coordination mechanisms at National/Provincial levels for CRVS promotion. It also recommended development and adoption of a national uniform CRVS law, in place of currently fragmented piecemeal laws. There is need for implementation of ICD coding for cause of death with inclusion of private health care providers in loop. Study recommended promotion and training in ICD mortality coding practices. Subsequently, a national consultative workshop on CRVS Strategic Planning was also organized to thresh these recommendations and propose a national/provincial action plan.