ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) is facing shortage of nursing staff, while those serving at the hospital lack professionalism.

This was stated by the Pims executive director, Syed Fazl-i- Hadi, here on Monday. He was speaking at the inaugural of the six-day training workshop for nursing instructors organized by the Women’s Health Project of the federal health ministry.

According to rough estimates, Pims is facing a shortage of around 150 nurses, Mr Hadi said.

Since a nurse played an important role in the pre and post operation medical care, hence “we are unable to provide the best of medical care at the hospital”, he added.

Moreover, the present staff is not abreast of the latest methods being practised all around the world in hospitals which is a serious hurdle in providing best medical care to patients at Pims, he said.

He criticized the obsolete syllabus being taught both at medical colleges and nursing training institutions of the country.

“We are teaching the same curricula to our young generation doctors and nurses which we had studied back in the 50s and 60s, therefore, how can we expect a positive change in the medical field,” he added.

The same Pakistani doctors, when they go abroad, prove themselves the best among the lot. But, here due to lack of learning facilities they remain ordinary doctors, he said.

Mr Hadi said at present there were only five nursing colleges in the country. This number needs to be increased on emergency basis and quality education should be ensured, he said.

Unfortunately, in Pakistan nursing profession is not given the sort of respect, it enjoys in rest of the world, he added.

He was of the view that with a number of international donor agencies willing to spend in the medical field in the country, “we have to mould them according to our needs”.

Ms S. Anjum Ishfaq, the nursing adviser in the federal health ministry, made a presentation on the constraints the nursing profession was up against.

Lack of awareness among the general masses and media about the nursing profession and its different roles is one problem that needs immediate attention on the part of private and public sectors, she said.

It is very rare that nurses are provided with some opportunity both at national and international levels for their capacity building which is a serious concern.

Similarly, insufficient involvement of senior nurses in policy and decision-making and planning in projects at all levels is another grey area this profession is facing.

Inadequate standards of education and practice, lack of resources and awareness for establishment of in-service education programme should also be given due attention.

Commenting on the working conditions in hospitals, she said nurses were overloaded with non-nursing tasks they had to carry out officially during their duty hours.