Pakistan is facing a serious shortage of primary care doctors. The country requires around 340,000 doctors, but there is a shortfall of nearly 179,711. This means our doctor-to-population ratio is only 1 per 1,000 people, which is far below the international standard of 2 per 1,000.
Additionally, low healthcare budgets, outdated training methods, poor working conditions, lack of opportunities and the continuous migration of doctors abroad have all added to the crisis. As a result, patients suffer the most, especially in rural areas where basic healthcare is already neglected.
To address this problem, the government should increase healthcare funding, improve the working environment for medical professionals and take serious steps to retain trained doctors within the country. Along with this, primary healthcare should be promoted so that pressure on big hospitals is reduced.
Shahad Fida
Absor
