1,866 staff posts vacant in Federal Hospitals, NA told

Islamabad: Federally administered hospitals face a shortage of 1,866 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, with only 3,736 of 5,602 sanctioned posts currently filled, according to figures placed before the National Assembly.

The biggest gap is at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, where 963 posts are vacant. PIMS has 852 sanctioned doctor posts, but only 467 are filled, leaving a shortage of 385 doctors. Of 1,093 nursing posts, 730 are filled, while only 293 of 508 paramedical staff posts are filled.

The figures were provided by Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustufa Kamal in response to a question raised by MNA Shaista Pervaiz during the 29th session of the National Assembly.

Across the federally administered health facilities covered in the reply, 644 doctor posts, 576 nursing posts and 646 paramedical posts are vacant.

Shykh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute in Lahore also has a major shortage. Of 178 sanctioned doctor posts, only 47 are filled, leaving 131 vacant. The institute has 588 nursing posts, of which 459 are filled, while 287 of 450 paramedical posts are occupied.

At the Federal Government Polyclinic in Islamabad, 90 doctor posts are vacant, while 45 nursing and 104 paramedical posts are also unfilled.

The Federal General Hospital in Islamabad has 10 vacant doctor posts, 27 vacant nursing posts and 10 vacant paramedical posts.

At the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in Islamabad, 17 doctor posts, six nursing posts and six paramedical posts remain vacant.

The District Health Office in Islamabad has eight vacant doctor posts and six vacant nursing posts, while 140 of its 347 paramedical posts are unfilled.

The Federal Government Tuberculosis Center in Rawalpindi has three vacant doctor posts and eight vacant paramedical posts. Its single sanctioned nursing post is filled.

Despite the staff shortage, the Ministry reported that medicine and medical equipment remained available according to approved requirements during the last financial year.

According to the ministerial reply, medicines were purchased based on demand, use and available budget. Essential medicines were also bought locally when urgently needed to avoid shortages. The ministry stated that critical medical equipment remained operational and no major shortage affecting patient care was reported.

The government said steps are being taken to fill the vacant positions. The case for recruitment against non-gazetted vacant posts is being processed and will be taken up with the Finance Division to obtain the required approval for the 2026 to 27 financial year.

The ministry also said vacant gazetted posts in grades 16 and above are being processed. At PIMS, 479 of 883 vacant posts have been filled, while the remaining 404 posts were recently advertised through the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).

At the Federal Government Polyclinic, the case for filling vacant posts is still being processed. At the Federal General Hospital, the FPSC has recently recommended eight Medical Officers.

The ministry also said regular promotions are being carried out through the relevant departmental committees to fill posts reserved for promotion.