Pakistan’s healthcare system is facing a deepening crisis as a growing number of nurses leave the country in search of better pay, safer working conditions, and professional growth abroad. This mass migration is creating a dangerous vacuum in hospitals and clinics nationwide, threatening the quality and accessibility of patient care.
According to official data, nurses made up 5.8% of Pakistan’s highly educated workforce that emigrated in 2024. The country needs approximately 700,000 nurses to meet demand, yet only 116,659 were registered as of 2020—an alarming shortfall for a population exceeding 240 million.
Top destinations for migrating nurses include the Gulf countries, UK, and Canada, where salaries and working conditions far surpass those in Pakistan. The trend is accelerating, with the number of Pakistani nurses registered abroad growing at a compound annual rate of 54.2% between 2019 and 2024.
Despite the rise of private nursing colleges, the Pakistan Nursing Council continues to restrict student quotas, slowing efforts to replenish the workforce. Experts argue that while these professionals contribute valuable foreign exchange, the lack of investment in nursing education and retention is undermining the system.
The nurse-to-doctor ratio in Pakistan stands at just 0.5 per doctor, far below the WHO-recommended 3:1 ratio. This imbalance places immense strain on medical staff and compromises patient outcomes.
A recent Senate Standing Committee on Health meeting revealed that Pakistan faces a shortage of over one million nurses, with 30,000 to 40,000 registered doctors not practicing at all. The committee also raised concerns about outdated certifications, “ghost colleges,” and deteriorating hospital infrastructure.
Without urgent reforms in recruitment, training, and retention, Pakistan’s healthcare system risks collapse. The crisis demands immediate attention from policymakers to ensure that the country’s medical institutions can continue to serve its people effectively.
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