KP healthcare system faces acute shortage of doctors, hospital beds

PESHAWAR (Dunya News) - A concerning shortage of healthcare facilities and medical staff has emerged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting significant gaps in the province's healthcare system.

Only 8,024 doctors are available to serve the province's population of more than 40 million, meaning there is approximately one doctor for every 5,000 to 6,000 people.

According to media reports, the condition of public healthcare facilities in the province is also unsatisfactory, with more than 200 government-run medical centres of various categories lying non-functional. Public hospitals are also facing a severe shortage of beds.

The report states that government hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have a total of 18,432 beds, while approximately 64,000 beds are required to meet the healthcare needs of the province's population. This leaves a shortfall of around 45,568 beds.

The report further highlights that the current number of doctors in the province is extremely low relative to its population, potentially making it difficult for patients to access medical consultations and treatment facilities.

Moreover, the closure of a large number of government healthcare centres is also hindering the provision of basic medical services to the public.

Meanwhile, Provincial Health Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Nigar Johar said during a briefing that the provincial government had decided to introduce amendments to the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Act and conduct audits of government hospitals to improve the healthcare system.

She added that shortcomings in the Sehat Card programme would be addressed and the system further improved to ensure better access to healthcare services for the public.

The shortage of doctors, non-functional medical centres and insufficient hospital beds remain major challenges in the province, requiring government reforms and an expansion of healthcare facilities.