Like the rest of the world, Pakistan is also observing International Nurses Day today.
The purpose of observing this day is to highlight the importance of the nursing profession and pay tribute to the services of nurses. Pakistan’s healthcare sector is facing a shortage of nearly 1.5 million nurses.
Organized by the International Council of Nurses, “International Nurses Day” is observed every year on May 12. May 12 is also the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
The formal observance of this day began in 1965. Nursing is considered the backbone of the healthcare sector, while the foundation of the nursing profession in Pakistan was laid in 1949 by Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses worked while risking their lives in a manner that remains unparalleled.
Pakistan’s healthcare sector is facing a severe shortage of nurses. According to various medical reports, the health sector requires more than 1.5 million nursing staff in total.
Despite long duty hours, immense work pressure, and limited facilities, nurses continue to care for patients. Currently, 162 nursing institutions are operating in Pakistan, but this number is considered insufficient compared to the growing needs.
Due to the increasing burden of patients in hospitals, the responsibilities of nurses have multiplied several times. According to an estimate, there is only one nurse available for every 100 patients in Pakistan.
