Islamabad, February 9: Pakistan has witnessed a record surge in medical migration over the past year. By 2025, the number of doctors leaving the country has reached alarming levels. According to the Bureau of Immigration, approximately 3,800 to 4,000 doctors have departed in search of better opportunities abroad.
This figure marks the highest recorded to date and signals severe pressure on Pakistan’s healthcare system. Reports indicate that this trend of doctor migration has accelerated over the past decade. Although the trend has been upward since 2010, it peaked in 2025. An editorial in Pakistan’s leading daily, The News International, highlights these concerns.
The editorial states, “Every year, around 22,000 new doctors graduate in Pakistan, and there are about 370,000 registered doctors. However, with a population of nearly 250 million, the country needs at least 250,000 doctors to meet the WHO standard of one doctor per 1,000 people.”
It further notes, “On paper, Pakistan seems to meet this requirement, but many registered doctors are not actively practicing. Why is our healthcare system so poor? The primary issues are inadequate infrastructure and cultural challenges that keep many female doctors away from the workplace.”
According to the 2023 Gallup survey, 35 percent of female medical doctors in Pakistan do not work. Some are unable to find employment due to social constraints, while others remain unemployed for various reasons.
Transportation remains a significant issue in Pakistan, leading many young female doctors to choose alternative jobs rather than travel at night. Many doctors leave the profession due to low salaries.
Previously, young doctors protested to highlight their challenging working conditions. However, as noted in The News International editorial, such protests have nearly ceased due to the government’s lack of interest in addressing their demands.
Healthcare facilities in Pakistan are primarily concentrated in urban areas, meaning severely ill patients must travel to select cities for medical treatment. This situation places additional strain on already overburdened healthcare centers in urban regions, forcing healthcare workers to work excessively.
The editorial also points out that limited access to advanced healthcare infrastructure and research facilities discourages ambitious professionals from staying in Pakistan.
Doctors often express frustration over the lack of modern medical equipment, training opportunities, and a conducive working environment in Pakistan, prompting them to seek opportunities abroad where they can practice in a technologically advanced healthcare ecosystem.