KARACHI: While Pakistan faces an acute shortage of nurses and produces a critically lower number of nursing graduates, it sees a high annual outward migration of these professionals due to unfavourable factors, such as inadequate salaries, poor benefits and high workloads, says a study launched on Tuesday at the Aga Khan University (AKU).

According to the study, nurses, comprising 0.4 per cent of Pakistani professionals abroad, have seen the highest growth — 54.2pc compound annual growth rate from 2019 to 2024.

The report titled Pakistan’s Nursing Workforce — Export Potential and Challenges, was jointly launched by Pakistan Business Council (PBC) and the AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM), Pakistan.

The goal of the study was to evaluate the potential of nurses’ contribution to the country through remittances and identify specific challenges that hinder their acceptance in global markets. It suggests strategies to elevate their skillset and overall quality of care.

Speaking at the event, Dean of AKU, SONAM, Dr Salimah Walani said, “The migration of nurses from Pakistan is driven by pull and push factors. We must have an open dialogue about what factors are pushing our nurses out.”

With a disproportionately low nurse-to-doctor ratio, Pakistan’s healthcare sector remains heavily doctor-centric, says AKU-PBC study

Pointing out the shocking statistics in the report that the nurse-to-population ratio is only 5.2 to 10,000 people, far below the World Health Organisation ’s recommended 30 to 10,000 people, she said: “We must ask ourselves if our nurses are rightly valued and rewarded in our society and in our healthcare systems.”

The report identifies two major pathways for growth. First, a well-supported nursing workforce leads to a healthier population, which is a cornerstone of long-term economic stability. Pakistan produces just 5,600 nursing graduates annually, and a growing number are migrating abroad, with a compound annual growth rate of 54 per cent in overseas employment between 2019 and 2024.

Second, by improving the education and global mobility of Pakistani nurses, the country can significantly increase valuable remittances and build its brand as a global leader in healthcare talent.

It points out that country’s healthcare is heavily doctor-centric, with a disproportionately low nurse to doctor ratio and with socioeconomic disparities contributing to stigma against nurses.

According to the study, factors such as inadequate access to modern technology techniques, lack of monitoring of nursing institutions and limited specialisation options in Pakistani nursing degrees are some major barriers to the nurses’ professional growth.

The report recommends retention strategies, better salaries, clearer career pathways, and media campaigns to improve the nursing profession’s image, along with education, policy and procedural reforms to streamline overseas employment processes, reduce financial burdens, and promote Pakistani nurses internationally.

For improvement of international mobility of nurses, the report suggests training of specific batches for specific countries, addressing accreditation discrepancies, reducing financial barriers for nurses applying abroad, streamlining overseas nursing employment and emphasising the need for Pakistani missions facilitating overseas nurses.

“This is the time for Pakistan to shift its perception of the nursing profession from undervalued to indispensable, and convert a persistent challenge into a long-term economic advantage,” said Farah Naz Ata, senior economist at the PBC.

“By implementing these recommendations, we can uplift healthcare standards at home, empower our nurses, and unlock a powerful stream of foreign remittances.”

The launch event at the AKU united key stakeholders, including representatives from the ministry of health, nursing leadership, and other influential partners stressing the need for advancing the report’s recommendations through a coordinated effort.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2025