Pakistan is facing a healthcare crisis as a rising number of qualified nurses continue to emigrate abroad, leaving critical staffing gaps in local medical facilities. Driven by low pay, poor working conditions, and limited career growth at home, many nurses are securing jobs in countries like the Gulf states, the UK, and Canada.

Recent data shows that Pakistani nurses comprised 5.8% of the country’s highly educated workforce emigrating in 2024. Pakistan currently requires approximately 700,000 nurses to meet demand, yet only about 117,000 were registered as of 2020, creating an alarming shortage.

Between 2019 and 2024, nurse migration from Pakistan grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 50%, significantly depleting the local workforce. This rapid exodus has led to widespread understaffing, increasing workloads for remaining nurses, and compromising patient safety.

The nurse-to-doctor ratio in Pakistan remains low—approximately 0.5 nurses per doctor—far below the WHO recommendation of three nurses per doctor. Hospitals and clinics are now struggling to deliver quality care due to burnout,the absence of support, and limited retention policies.

Education institutions and professional councils are criticized for not expanding nursing intake effectively. While private nursing colleges produce graduates, regulatory authorities have not increased licensing quotas accordingly, preventing many trained nurses from contributing to the workforce or going abroad legally.

To mitigate the crisis, healthcare leaders call for urgent reforms. Priority measures include raising nurse salaries, improving workplace conditions, expanding training opportunities, and creating clear professional pathways. Without meaningful intervention, Pakistan’s healthcare system risks collapse under relentless talent loss and growing demand pressure.