Pakistan faces shortage of 900k nurses
Chairman Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Syed Mustafa Kamal addresses the party's rally, at Karachi's Bagh-e-Jinnah on May 15, 2022. Photo: Twitter/@PSPPakistan
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan is facing a shortage of nearly 900,000 nurses as he announced the complete digitalisation of the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC).
The health minister chaired a meeting on the affairs of the PNC, attended by the Federal Health Secretary and Additional Secretary.
During the session, the Ministry announced to fully digitalisation of the PNC to ensure efficiency, merit, and transparency in all of its operations.
Speaking on the occasion, Kamal emphasized that all affairs of the Council will soon be computerized to minimize human intervention and eliminate inefficiencies.
"We will restore the lost credibility of the nursing profession and transform the Pakistan Nursing Council into a modern, effective, and internationally recognized institution," he said.
The minister underscored the vital role of nursing in Pakistan's health system and highlighted the pressing shortage of nursing professionals. Pakistan currently faces a shortfall of nearly 900,000 nurses, while globally the shortage of qualified nurses stands at approximately 2.5 million.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthen the nursing sector through comprehensive reforms, robust policies, and modern digital systems.
He further noted that nursing is one of the most critical pillars of the health sector, and bold steps are being taken to bring the profession in line with international standards.