Midwife Shortage Threatens Maternal Health in Pakistan

The United Nations Population Fund has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan in strengthening midwifery education and health systems, calling for urgent investment to address a critical shortage of skilled workers.

The statement was issued on the occasion of the International Day of the Midwife, with UNFPA’s Pakistan representative, Dr Luay Shabaneh, stressing the importance of expanding midwifery services nationwide.

Officials say nearly 100 women die per 100,000 live births, mostly due to preventable causes.

UNFPA urged the Government of Pakistan to:

Dr Shabaneh described midwives as essential frontline providers, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where they often serve as the first point of care.

He noted that properly trained and supported midwives can:

UNFPA emphasized that investing in midwives is not only a health priority but also an economic one, as it reduces emergency care costs, eases pressure on hospitals, and improves long-term productivity.

However, many midwives in Pakistan continue to work without adequate equipment, supervision, or safe conditions.

An advanced midwifery clinical skills training program was recently launched in Tharparkar to improve maternal and neonatal healthcare in underserved areas.