AVAILABILITY AND ADEQUACY OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR REFRACTIVE ERROR SERVICES IN PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS OF DISTRICT PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Background: Effective refractive error services depend on an adequate and appropriately distributed eye-care workforce. However, information on the availability of personnel providing refractive services in public hospitals in Pakistan is limited. Objective: To assess the availability and distribution of human resources for refractive error services in public sector hospitals of District Peshawar, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional situational analysis was conducted over six months in eight public sector hospitals in District Peshawar: three tertiary-care hospitals, two secondary-care hospitals, one district-headquarters (DHQ) hospital, and two tehsil-headquarters (THQ) hospitals. A non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used. Information on human resources was collected through interviews with hospital heads. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21, and descriptive statistics were reported as frequencies.

Results: Human resources were unevenly distributed across the eight hospitals. The tertiary-care hospitals had 10 optometrists, 3 refractionists, 23 ophthalmic technicians, and 20 ophthalmic nurses. The two secondary-care hospitals had only one optometrist, while the DHQ hospital had two optometrists and one ophthalmic technician. No personnel for refractive services were identified at either THQ hospital. Overall, specialist personnel and the widest range of services were concentrated at tertiary-care level. Conclusion: Public sector hospitals in District Peshawar have an uneven distribution of human resources for refractive error services, with marked shortages at secondary, DHQ, and THQ levels. Workforce planning, recruitment and training of refractionists and other eye-care personnel, and integration of basic refractive services into lower-level healthcare facilities are needed.

Keywords: Human resources; refractive error; refractive services; optometrists; refractionists; public sector hospitals; Peshawar.