Healthcare strained by nurses shortage: PMA
IV Report
KARACHI: As the world marked International
Nurses Day on Tuesday, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) warned that
Pakistan’s healthcare system was facing a critical crisis due to an acute
shortage of nurses and paramedics, calling the situation the “single greatest
hurdle” to quality healthcare in the country.
In a statement issued on the
occasion, the PMA said nurses and paramedics formed the true backbone of every
medical facility, stressing that even the most advanced hospitals could not
function effectively without trained staff providing round-the-clock care.
Honouring this year’s global theme,
“Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” the association
expressed concern over Pakistan’s poor nursing density compared to regional
countries. It said Pakistan currently had only 0.5 nurses per 1,000 people, far
below countries such as the Maldives (5.0), Nepal (3.6), Sri Lanka (2.3) and
India (1.7).
The PMA said the country was facing
a shortage of nearly 900,000 nurses, forcing frontline healthcare workers to
manage patient loads several times higher than regional averages.
“We are witnessing a systemic
failure where our healthcare ‘backbone’ is being pushed to a breaking point,”
PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said.
“The government must realise that
doctors cannot function in a vacuum. A nurse-to-patient ratio that often
exceeds 1:40 in our general wards is not just unsustainable, it is dangerous,”
he added.
The association urged federal and
provincial governments to introduce a dignified service structure and
competitive pay scales to prevent the migration of nurses abroad. It also
called for the modernisation of nursing and paramedical institutes, immediate
filling of vacant posts in public hospitals, and improved workplace facilities,
including transport and hostel accommodation.
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| Prof Dr Tanseer Ahmed |
Meanwhile, separately, Dow
University of Health Sciences (DUHS) also honoured the dedication, compassion
and tireless service of nurses across the globe on International Nurses Day.
In a message, Prof Dr Tanseer Ahmed,
Dean & Principal, Dow Institute of Nursing
& Midwifery appreciated the services of nurses,
describing them as the backbone of the healthcare system who play a vital role in
patient care and community wellbeing.
“Their commitment, resilience and
professionalism continue to inspire us every day,” he said, reaffirming DUHS’s
commitment to nurturing competent and compassionate nursing professionals for
the nation and beyond.
Images courtesy: DUHS
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