Islamabad’s hospitals are struggling with a severe shortage of ventilators, essential life-saving equipment for patients in critical condition. Both Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic Hospital report near-full occupancy of their ventilator units. Pims Executive Director Dr. Rana Imran Sikander cited financial constraints and prolonged patient use—averaging 20 days in some units—as contributing factors to the scarcity. Despite having over 90 ventilators across its ICUs, Pims frequently operates at 100% capacity, while also maintaining a policy of accepting all patients, even those requiring stretcher placement. The high cost of ventilators—ranging from Rs3 to 5 million—and the daily operating expense of approximately Rs200,000 per patient, coupled with a lack of funding and inadequate staffing, exacerbate the challenge. This shortage puts immense pressure on the healthcare system and threatens the lives of patients needing respiratory support.