Pakistan facing shortage of one million nurses, report reveals

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination was told on Monday that there is a shortage of nearly one million nurses in Pakistan.

As per the details, a briefing was given about the formation, functioning and operations of the Ministry of National Health Services in the meeting of the committee presided over by Senator Amir Valiuddin Chishti.

Secretary NHSRC said that there is a shortage of about 1 million nurses in Pakistan. Along with these challenges and manpower shortage issues, access to health care in rural areas was also discussed.

He said that funds are needed to improve the work of the ministry. The condition of hospitals like Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was also discussed.

Officials from the ministry, while giving an overview of key initiatives and programmes, said their strategy involves working within a multi-framework to achieve seamless results.

During the briefing, the Health Facility Program, which provides free health insurance at $2 per day to families living below the poverty line, was discussed in detail.

The committee members noted that a large part of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line. Senator Muhammad Humayun Mohmand suggested that the ministry should focus on the management of this vulnerable section of the population.

While giving a briefing on polio eradication initiatives, the secretary said that the work with Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq as the coordinator of the initiative is going on effectively and the results will be out by next year. However, there are challenges such as Afghan repatriation, and the first health talks with the Afghan government are scheduled for September this year.

Additionally, the new policy framework and Prime Minister’s initiative of Quaid-e-Azam Health Tower, which will focus on super-specialties, research and medical education in Islamabad, were also discussed extensively among the committee members. The secretary explained that the funds allocated this year are for feasibility studies, the project will go ahead after detailed planning.

Senators Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Abdul Qudoos, Syed Masroor Ahsan, Liaqat Khan Tarakai, Muhammad Humayun Mohmand, Rahat Jamali, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Secretary Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, President Pakistan Medical and others attended the occasion. Dental Council (PMDC), CEO DRAP and senior officials of the Ministry.