Pakistan Takes Steps to Address U.S. Nurse Shortage, Creating Opportunities for Skilled Professionals
The United States is facing a shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, which has created new opportunities for Pakistani skilled nursing professionals to fill this gap. Recent discussions between officials from Pakistan’s Embassy in Washington, U.S. diplomats, representatives from New York State Assembly, and members of the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) have highlighted progress in facilitating this opportunity.
During a recent online meeting, attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Consul General Aamer Ahmed Atozai, and the Community Welfare Attaché from the New York Consulate, along with New York State Assembly Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos and Chief of Staff Christian Macario, significant developments were made regarding the recruitment of Pakistani nursing professionals to the U.S. healthcare system.
Deputy Speaker Ramos discussed the need for establishing examination centers in Pakistan, allowing nursing students to take their professional readiness exams domestically. This computer-based examination will assess nursing graduates’ preparedness to enter the workforce, eliminating the financial burden of traveling abroad to take the test.
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Highlighting the growing demand for healthcare professionals in the U.S., Ramos emphasized Pakistan’s potential to contribute to addressing this shortage. He expressed interest in the country’s role in supplying skilled healthcare workers to meet U.S. needs.
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh called this collaboration a milestone in U.S.-Pakistan relations, which would reduce the financial burden on Pakistani professionals and encourage greater participation. He also emphasized the importance of aligning recruitment and immigration processes with the local healthcare needs of the U.S., ensuring a smooth flow of qualified nurses into the American workforce.
APPAC outlined its role in facilitating this collaboration, with Chairman Dr. Ijaz Ahmed and President Dr. Parvez Iqbal contributing to the discussions. Dr. Iqbal highlighted the increasing demand for healthcare professionals across North America and stressed how this initiative will enable Pakistan to train and export its medical workforce to the U.S., creating career opportunities for Pakistani professionals while strengthening the U.S. healthcare system.
The parties agreed to hold regular follow-up meetings to ensure the successful progression of this initiative. Dr. Ijaz Ahmed praised the efforts of APPAC, calling it a significant step forward for both countries.
This initiative presents an exciting opportunity for Pakistani nursing professionals, marking an important development in U.S.-Pakistan relations and contributing to the global medical workforce.
