ISLAMABAD: As International Nurses Day was observed on Sunday, a discussion underscored the significant shortage of nurses in Pakistan, particularly concerning the attrition of nursing staff.

Under the theme ‘Our Nurses, Our Future—The Economic Power of Care’, the day was observed with an aim to highlight the importance of strategic investment in nursing, which can bring economic and societal benefits. It was also discussed that Pakistan had around 100,000 nurses, despite the fact that the country required 10 times more trained nurses.

On this occasion, Chief Medical Officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres (SKMCH) Dr Mohammed Aasim Yusuf appreciated the role of nurses and encouraged young people to consider nursing as a profession.

“Pakistan faces a huge shortage of nurses. The biggest challenge remains the attrition of nursing staff. We lose a number of trained nurses each year to better economic opportunities in the developed world. One estimate is that we are short of close to one million nurses in Pakistan. We need to improve the opportunities available for our nurses, including opportunities for their academic and professional advancement,” he said.

“Nursing forms the backbone of medical care. SKMCH achieved Joint Commission International accreditation in 2018 (Lahore) and 2019 (Peshawar) and JCI Enterprise Accreditation for the entire organisation in 2022. Our nursing staff actively participated at all levels in these surveys, and they remain a critical link in providing safe and compassionate care to our patients,” he said.

“There is no doubt that better healthcare results in a better society, which has a direct effect on creating a healthier economy,” Dr Yusuf said.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2024