Pakistan faces a shortage of nursing professionals, with Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal estimating a gap of 900,000 nurses. He also said international markets need around 2.5 million Pakistani nurses, showing strong international demand.
Kamal shared these figures while addressing the inauguration of the Allied Health Professionals Council’s regional office in Karachi on Saturday. He stressed that Pakistan must strengthen nursing education and introduce digital systems to improve transparency.
The minister called for Allied Health Professionals Council centres in every province. He said healthcare extends beyond hospital treatment and includes preventive services such as vaccination, polio prevention, birth spacing and clean drinking water.
Digital Reforms And Better Healthcare Services
Kamal said digitalisation could improve oversight and build public confidence in nursing education. He also highlighted allied health workers, who support the healthcare system.
Furthermore, he urged authorities to make professional services more accessible. Regional centres could reduce the need for healthcare professionals to travel to Islamabad for work.
Hepatitis C And Population Growth Concerns
He also discussed public health challenges. He said around 11 million people in Pakistan were suffering from Hepatitis C and urged citizens to seek testing.
Kamal said the government provided a three-month treatment course for the disease. He praised overseas Pakistanis, describing them as important contributors through annual remittances exceeding $32 billion.
Moreover, he warned that Pakistan could become the world’s fourth most populous country by 2030. He argued that creating new provinces was necessary to improve governance and ensure national stability.
His remarks underline the need to expand nursing education and strengthen healthcare institutions. Addressing the shortage could help Pakistan meet domestic healthcare needs while responding to international demand for qualified nurses across the country.
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