PESHAWAR – A growing shortage of ICU beds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has raised serious concerns about the province’s healthcare system, with public hospitals struggling to meet the needs of a population exceeding 40 million people.
The issue gained attention after a resident, Muhammad Owais, reported losing his critically ill mother at Khyber Teaching Hospital while searching for an available ICU bed. According to his account, hospital staff informed him that all ICU beds were occupied and that he would have to wait for one to become available.
Official data shows that the number of ICU beds in major public hospitals remains significantly below demand. Hayatabad Medical Complex currently has 49 ICU beds, while Khyber Teaching Hospital operates 45. Lady Reading Hospital, one of the largest healthcare facilities in the province and a major referral center for emergency cases, has only 34 ICU beds available.
Other major hospitals also face limited capacity. Ayub Teaching Hospital in Abbottabad has 32 ICU beds, Mardan Medical Complex has 16, and Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex in Nowshera has only six. Overall, public hospitals across the province offer around 400 ICU beds for millions of residents.
Healthcare experts have described the ICU bed shortage as a major challenge, warning that current facilities are unable to keep pace with the increasing demand for critical care services. They say that a shortage of trained medical staff, specialized equipment, and financial resources has slowed efforts to expand intensive care services.
Experts have urged authorities to invest more in healthcare infrastructure, increase the number of ICU beds, and strengthen workforce training programs to improve patient care across the province.
KP Health Secretary Shahidullah Khan acknowledged the shortage and said the provincial government is aware of the issue. He stated that improving healthcare facilities remains a priority and confirmed that additional funding for the health sector is expected in the upcoming budget.
According to officials, the government plans to significantly expand ICU capacity in public hospitals, with a goal of doubling the number of ICU beds in the future. Authorities say these measures are aimed at ensuring better healthcare services and improved access to critical care treatment throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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