Healthcare strained by nurses shortage: PMA
Doctors’ body calls for reforms, better pay and filling of vacant posts 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) ...