It has been revealed during the Senate Standing Committee on Health meeting that 50 to 60 percent of Pakistan’s doctors are moving abroad.
Senator Anusha Rehman informed the Senate Health Committee that a large number of doctors trained in Pakistan prefer to work in foreign countries rather than serving in their own country. Around 50 to 60 percent of Pakistani doctors are going abroad.
She further stated that most Pakistani doctors are moving to Ireland, where they receive a monthly salary of 5,000 euros.
She added that the migration of doctors has become a serious threat to the national healthcare system and is causing a severe shortage of staff in public hospitals.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal informed the meeting that around 22,000 doctors graduate in Pakistan annually, but considering a population of 250 million, this number is insufficient.
He further said that a large number of female doctors do not continue practice after completing their education, which further reduces the availability of skilled staff in the health sector.
The Federal Minister admitted that the migration and unavailability of doctors have become a major challenge for the healthcare system.
