KARACHI: Pakistan’s healthcare system is grappling with critical issues such as the migration of doctors, a significant gender imbalance in the medical workforce, and a pressing need for digital transformation. These challenges will be the focal points of discussion at the 27th Biennial Convention of the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), which begins on Saturday, September 21, in Karachi.
Ahead of the convention, newly-elected PIMA President Professor Dr. Atif Hafeez Siddiqui, alongside senior PIMA members including Prof. Dr. Sohail Akhtar, former caretaker health minister Sindh Prof. Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz, PIMA Karachi President Prof. Dr. Abdullah Muttaqi, and Prof. Dr. Abdul Malik, emphasized the urgent need for reforms to address these issues.
At a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Prof. Siddiqui highlighted that 35% of female doctors in Pakistan do not practice after completing their medical education, largely due to inadequate support infrastructure. Among the remaining 65% who do practice, only 20-25% work full-time. He suggested exploring alternatives like telemedicine, which proved effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, to engage more female doctors.
Prof. Siddiqui also addressed the concerning trend of doctor migration, noting that 40-50% of male medical graduates wish to work abroad, with 25-30% already practicing overseas. He described this brain drain as “alarming” and pointed out that many newly graduated doctors feel underpaid and undervalued, contributing to the talent exodus.
Emphasizing the need for digital reform, Prof. Siddiqui stressed that modernizing the Sindh health department could enhance transparency and efficiency by eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies and exposing ghost employees.
Former caretaker health minister Sindh, Prof. Saad Khalid Niaz, supported this view, advocating for the introduction of health insurance schemes in Sindh similar to those implemented in other provinces.
