PAKISTAN is teetering at the edge of a health crisis amid an ongoing economic meltdown. Health, like many other sectors, remains in the grip of severe staff shortages in many a rural area of Pakistan. Given the urban and rural division of the population, a large number of people, almost 64 per cent, live in rural areas with little or no basic health amenities, exacerbating the overall lack of access to standard healthcare.

Against this backdrop, skilled nurses are of utmost importance in rural areas because they play a vital role in providing primary healthcare services. They are often, if not always, the first point of contact for patients who seek medical assistance.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in rural Sindh where skilled and qualified nurses often exhibit reluctance to work in rural communities due to multiple factors, causing a drastic shortage of trained nurses in such areas.

As a result, untrained healthcare providers are filling the vacuum, and are engaged in medication without proper prescriptions from doctors. Worse, they have been performing routine check-ups, suggesting possible treatment plans and putting patients’ health in jeopardy.

Nurses tend to prefer working in urban areas where they have access to more extensive social and financial prospects. This is leading to substantial staff deficits in rural areas.

In addition, there are currently approximately 46 registered doctors for every 100,000 people in Sindh, whereas the number of nurses stands at only around 15 per 100,000, and for lady health visitors (LHV), it is merely two per 100,000. The figures by any standard are dismal.

Trained nurses can provide a range of essential services, such as adminis-tering medication, monitoring patients’ condition, and providing health education and counselling.

One of the major factors contributing to the hiring of unskilled nurses is the low salaries provided by the government to healthcare workers in rural areas. This often makes it difficult for nurses to support themselves and their families. Providing incentive packages, such as higher salaries and special allowances may help convince qualified nurses to work in rural areas where their services are needed the most.

Once implemented, these steps may strengthen the healthcare system in Pakistan, benefiting patients in rural areas.

Sana Sultan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2023