One doctor for every 6,000 people in KP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing a severe shortage of doctors, with only 8,024 doctors available to serve a population of more than 40 million. This means that approximately one doctor is available for every 5,000 to 6,000 people, highlighting the growing pressure on the province’s already strained healthcare system.

According to a report, more than 200 government healthcare facilities of different categories across the province are currently non-functional, further limiting public access to essential medical services. The shortage of medical professionals and inactive healthcare centres have raised serious concerns about the availability and quality of healthcare, particularly for people living in remote and underserved areas.

The report also revealed a significant shortage of hospital beds in government hospitals. While public hospitals across the province currently have 18,432 beds, around 64,000 beds are required to meet the healthcare needs of the population. The substantial gap between the available and required facilities reflects the challenges facing the province’s public health infrastructure.

With a population exceeding 40 million, the province requires substantial improvements in its healthcare system to ensure adequate medical facilities and timely treatment for patients. The shortage of doctors, limited hospital capacity and closure of healthcare centres have added to the difficulties faced by people seeking treatment at public hospitals.

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

She said shortcomings in the Sehat Card programme would also be addressed to improve its performance and make healthcare services more effective.

The proposed reforms are aimed at addressing administrative and operational weaknesses in the healthcare sector. However, the province continues to face major challenges in expanding medical facilities, increasing the number of doctors and ensuring that existing government healthcare centres remain functional.