Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s public healthcare system is facing a significant shortage of doctors, hospital beds and functioning medical facilities, raising concerns about access to healthcare for a population of more than 40 million.
According to the latest figures, the province has only 8,024 doctors, leaving thousands of residents with limited access to medical professionals. The situation is further complicated by more than 200 government health facilities that are currently non-functional.
Public hospitals are also struggling with a major shortage of beds, with available capacity falling far below the estimated requirements of the provincial population.
KP Has Only 8,024 Doctors for Over 40 Million People
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa currently has 8,024 doctors serving a population of more than 40 million.
This translates to approximately one doctor for every 5,000 to 6,000 people, highlighting the pressure on the province’s healthcare workforce.
The shortage creates challenges for patients seeking medical consultations, diagnosis and treatment, particularly in areas where access to qualified doctors is already limited.
The situation also places additional responsibilities on doctors working in government hospitals, where a relatively small workforce must serve a large number of patients.
The figures underline the need for additional medical professionals and better distribution of healthcare staff across the province.
More Than 200 Government Health Facilities Non-Functional
The shortage of doctors is not the only challenge facing KP’s healthcare system.
More than 200 government health facilities of different categories are reportedly lying non-functional across the province.
The closure or non-operation of these facilities limits the availability of public healthcare services, particularly for communities that depend on government hospitals and local health centres.
When nearby facilities are unavailable, patients may have to travel longer distances to access treatment at operational hospitals.
This can create additional difficulties for people living in remote and underserved areas, where transportation and access to specialised medical services may already be limited.
Restoring non-functional facilities could therefore become an important part of efforts to improve healthcare access across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Public Hospitals Face a Shortage of Over 45,000 Beds
Hospital bed capacity presents another major challenge.
According to the reported figures, public hospitals across KP currently have 18,432 beds, while the estimated requirement for the province’s population stands at approximately 64,000.
This leaves a shortage of more than 45,000 beds.
The existing capacity represents less than one-third of the estimated requirement, indicating a substantial gap between available hospital infrastructure and healthcare demand.
A shortage of beds can put pressure on hospital wards, limit the capacity to admit patients and make it more difficult to provide inpatient care when demand increases.
The gap also highlights the need for investment in hospital infrastructure, including additional beds and supporting medical facilities.
KP Falls Far Below the WHO Doctor-to-Population Benchmark
The reported doctor-to-population ratio in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is considerably below the benchmark cited by the World Health Organization.
The WHO recommends one doctor for every 1,000 people. Based on a population of more than 40 million, KP would need approximately 40,000 doctors to reach that ratio.
However, the province currently has only 8,024 doctors.
This means the reported workforce is roughly one-fifth of the estimated number required to meet the cited benchmark.
Although the ratio provides an indication of the scale of the shortage, healthcare needs also depend on factors such as the distribution of doctors, availability of specialists and the capacity of hospitals.
Government Plans Changes to Healthcare System
KP Health Adviser Lt. Gen. (R) Nigar Johar said during a briefing that the provincial government has decided to amend the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Act.
The government has also decided to conduct audits of hospitals as part of its efforts to review the healthcare system.
These steps are expected to help the authorities assess hospital performance and examine administrative and operational issues affecting public healthcare institutions.
Further details about the proposed amendments and the scope of the hospital audits have not yet been provided.
Sehat Card Programme to Continue
Nigar Johar also confirmed that the Sehat Card programme will not be scrapped.
Instead, the provincial government intends to address existing weaknesses and improve the scheme.
The decision comes as the programme is set to undergo a financial audit following an earlier government decision.
The Sehat Card initiative is an important part of KP’s healthcare system, and its continuation means the government plans to focus on reforms rather than discontinuing the programme.
However, the details of the proposed improvements and the changes expected after the financial audit remain to be announced.
New Hospital Projects Also Underway
The provincial government had previously ordered fast-track work on new hospitals to expand healthcare infrastructure.
The latest figures, however, highlight the scale of the challenges that remain.
With only 8,024 doctors, more than 200 non-functional government health facilities and a shortage of over 45,000 hospital beds, KP faces several interconnected healthcare problems.
Addressing these gaps will require improvements in medical staffing, hospital capacity and the operation of existing facilities.
The government’s proposed amendments to the MTI Act, hospital audits and planned improvements to the Sehat Card programme are among the steps announced so far.
The effectiveness of these measures will depend on their implementation and whether they lead to better access to healthcare for people across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
