Patients are struggling to access life-saving treatment as critical care infrastructure falls short of the province’s health
PESHAWAR:
As Muhammad Owais rushed through the corridors of the Khyber Teaching Hospital in a desperate search for an intensive care unit (ICU) bed for his critically ill mother, every passing minute diminished her chances of survival.
The hospital staff told him that no ICU beds were available and that he had no option but to wait. Undeterred, Owais went from one department to another hoping to find a solution. But when he returned to her bedside, his mother had succumbed to her illness.
“For years, the government has claimed that hospitals are equipped with all the necessary facilities. Where are those facilities today? Who will be held responsible for my mother’s death?” paralyzed Owais.
Owais’ loss highlights a wider health crisis in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where a population of more than 40 million is served by only about 400 ICU beds in public hospitals – fewer than one ICU bed for every 100,000 people.
According to official figures, major hospitals across the province have limited ICU capacity. Hayatabad Medical Complex has 49 ICU beds, Khyber Teaching Hospital 45, while Lady Reading Hospital – the province’s largest tertiary care center and a key referral center for major emergencies and bomb blast victims – has only 34 ICU beds. Ayub Teaching Hospital in Abbottabad has 32 ICU beds, Mardan Medical Complex 16 and Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex in Nowshera only six.
Speaking to The Express Pakinomist, pulmonologist Dr. Ehtesham Khan the situation as alarming.
“This is an extremely serious problem. Four hundred ICU beds are far from sufficient for a province with a population of over 40 million. Based on existing health requirements and international standards, KP should have at least 1,000 ICU beds,” opined Dr. Khan.
“When ICU beds are unavailable, many critically ill patients—including trauma victims, cardiac patients, children and others suffering from life-threatening conditions—lose their lives because they cannot receive the intensive care they urgently need,” he said. He noted that although emergency medicine is rapidly advancing globally, Pakistan continues to face a shortage of trained specialists.
“Many intensivists prefer to work abroad because of better incentives and working conditions. Establishing an ICU is not only about increasing the number of beds; it also requires trained staff and specialized resources, both of which are in short supply,” he added.
Dr. Khan also urged the government to expand the Sehat Card program to cover intensive care in private hospitals.
“In private hospitals, ICU charges often exceed Rs 50,000 per day, making critical care unaffordable for poor patients,” he stressed.
Dr. Saleem Yousafzai, spokesman for the Provincial Doctors Association, noted that the shortage extends beyond intensive care facilities.
“Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa currently has 11 teaching hospitals and 32 non-teaching government hospitals, yet there is a lack of facilities not only in intensive care but also in radiology, pathology and several other departments,” he told The Express Pakinomist.
He recommended that every teaching hospital in the province should have at least 50 ICU beds, while district headquarters hospitals should have at least 20 ICU beds.
Responding to concerns, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Shahidullah Khan assured that improving health services remained the government’s top priority.
“The health department and the government are fully aware of the shortage of ICU beds in government hospitals,” he said. He added that the provincial government plans to increase the health budget in the coming financial year and intends to double the number of ICU beds across public hospitals. “We are committed to ensuring better health facilities for the people of the province,” the health secretary said.
