Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea is 300 nurses short of the numbers it needs to perform its work.
The Minister for Health, Michael Malabag, says this is happening while newly graduated nurses struggle to get jobs.
Mr Malabag, who is also the MP for Moresby North West, says he may look at management practices because the people are suffering.
The Post Courier reports him saying he could order the recruitment of medical staff from overseas.
Last week the Australian Government announced it would provide 69 million US dollars to fund 1400 nursing and midwifery scholarships.
