Topic: 2024-Addressing Healthcare Worker Shortage
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Anastasia Placanica
Pakistan acknowledges the critical shortage of healthcare workers, particularly nurses, as a significant challenge to its health system. The country is aware of the widening gap between the number of physicians and nurses, with the current trend showing an increase in the production of doctors over nurses. Pakistan recognizes that only about 5% of nurses have an education of Bachelor science or above. The country is committed to addressing this issue and improving the healthcare worker situation.
Pakistan is directly affected by the healthcare worker shortage. The country faces a critical shortage of different groups of healthcare workers, which will escalate further because of the high population growth rate, inequitable distribution, and out-migration of the healthcare workforce. The shortage is clearly shown in the nursing profession, with the country facing a significant amount of shortage of nurses and healthcare professionals. This shortage was distinguished during COVID-19, where nurses played a vital role on the front.
To address the healthcare worker shortage, Pakistan proposes several policies. First, the country suggests increasing the budget for health as a percentage of GDP4. Second, it proposes improving the readiness of the health system, especially in the public sector, in terms of human resources and the availability of essential services. Third, it recommends continuing safety nets for health regardless of changes in political regimes. Fourth, it suggests decreasing reliance on donors’ funding. Lastly, it advocates for ensuring accountability across the board for service providers, managers, administrators, and policymakers in the health system.
Works Cited:
The Health Workforce Crisis in Pakistan: A Critical Review And …, www.longwoods.com/content/24031/world-health-population/the-health-workforce-crisis-in-pakistan-a-critical-review-and-the-way-forward. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Pakistan Continues to Face Acute Shortage of Nurses: Seminar | …, www.aku.edu/news/Pages/News_Details.aspx?nid=NEWS-002534. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
“Pakistan Crisis.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/emergencies/situations/pakistan-crisis. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.
Pakistan Facing Acute Shortage of Nurses, Healthcare Professionals, www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/pakistan-facing-acute-shortage-of-nurses-healthcare-professionals20210512051151/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Prioritising the Health and Care Workforce Shortage, www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/langlo/PIIS2214-109X(23)00224-3.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Shaikh, Babar Tasneem, and Nabeela Ali. “Universal Health Coverage in Pakistan: Is the Health System Geared up to Take on the Challenge? – Globalization and Health.” BioMed Central, BioMed Central, 12 Jan. 2023, globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-023-00904-1.
