Seven hospitals grapple with staff shortage

Seven federal government hospitals, including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), are currently facing a shortage of as many as 2,108 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff against their sanctioned strength of 5,602 posts.

According to available documents, only 3,494 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are currently working across the seven hospitals, leaving 2,108 posts vacant.

Pims, the largest hospital in the federal capital and the facility recently affected by a major fire tragedy, is also facing a severe shortage of medical staff. Against 2,453 sanctioned posts, only 1,419 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are currently working, leaving 1,034 posts vacant.

At the Polyclinic Hospital, 893 members of the medical staff are working against 1,132 sanctioned posts, leaving 239 vacancies.

The National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) has 132 staff members against a sanctioned strength of 161, resulting in a shortfall of 29 personnel.

At Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, 793 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are working against 1,216 sanctioned posts, leaving 423 positions vacant.

The Federal General Hospital, Islamabad, is also operating with a shortage of medical staff. Against 212 sanctioned posts, only 165 personnel are currently working, leaving 47 vacancies.

The documents further show that 125 posts in the district health department and 11 posts at the federal government's TB Centre in Rawalpindi are vacant.