Why doctors want to leave Pakistan

What have I given to Pakistan? Nothing. And it doesn't bother me one bit.

Nadir Abbas May 17, 2013
I was born in a society where the field of medicine was considered a 'sacred' profession. A doctor was called "Doctor Sahib" out of mere respect. Reflecting on these societal views, I too, aspired to be a doctor.

Little did I know what I was in for..

After graduating from medical school, I joined the likes of many enthusiastic doctors and started working in a government hospital in Islamabad.

The job expected me to work over 80 hours per week and paid me nothing at all because all the paid seats (which were a mere handful) were occupied by doctors who were either well connected or were ready to exchange a bundle of notes for this so-called sacred title.

I had to spend two gruelling months in government offices, begging for a job that paid me absolutely nothing.

Just to explain the absurdity of this to you, consider this example. You're building a house and a skilled worker comes in, offers to work for free and you still refuse to accept his service. Sounds ridiculous, right?

Unfortunately, this is the sad truth for Pakistani doctors.

We live is a country where 10,000 people are attended to by just one physician on average. According to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), 15,000 doctors leave the country every year.

Given these numbers, why does the government not make use of the many doctors that are available and only too willing to help?

It is not surprising that the US, UK and now the Middle East have become the biggest importers of doctors from Pakistan, with the latter now even recognising Pakistani doctors without any further examinations and giving them 20 times the amount of remuneration that they could have ever received in Pakistan.

While I was working in a hospital in Wales UK, a local patient inquired if my country was trying to get me to return to avail my service.

I was deeply saddened by this question and the first thing that popped to my mind was the famous saying of the former prime minister,
"Why don't they leave?"

I think this answer should suffice.

Numerous protests by doctors are witnessed in various areas of the country. I have no opinion on what's to be done in the triple-threat match between the government, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) and the media but I do know one thing; if you want a doctor to treat patients and put his heart into his work, he needs to be unimpeded of the financial constraints he faces.

An average doctor has two 32-hour shifts in a week (in all government hospitals) this is termed as a "call".

Think about it and tabulate the numbers in your head; 32 hours on duty without a rest, twice in one week.

How do you expect someone to function for 32 hours without any sleep at all?

In England, doctors have a 12 hour working day (maximum) and a 48 hour working week (maximum). So are we being unfair in our rules and regulations? I think yes.

After this brief introduction into a doctor’s life in Pakistan, I’m sure you won’t blame me when I say I would much rather invest my time saving lives in a foreign country than in Pakistan. If you ask me,
“What have you given to your country?”

I won’t have an answer. Yet, the truth is that I really don’t care. I would rather work in an alien environment than struggle my way in Pakistan and receive no recognition or appreciation in return.

I paid for my own education; the government didn't provide me with any compensation, so why should I do anything fot the government for free?

I speak on the behalf of all the other doctors here; none of us would stay back if we had an opportunity to leave. With American doctors leaving the Middle East and them recognising FCPS doctors, we have a chance that we may not want to miss out on.

While politicians are busy fighting on TV talk shows, what everyone fails to recognise is that soon Pakistan will have no good doctors left and they will only have themselves to blame.

Adios now; I must go and save a life... and get paid for it!
WRITTEN BY:
Nadir Abbas A medical graduate from Rawalpindi who is currently working in the leading private chain of hospitals, Spire Healthcare in Wales, UK.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (139)

faizan qaisar | 10 years ago | Reply @sterry: sterry don't say there is no shortage of doctors in this country....mind it no good doctor now even think to stay i dont know what do you think about the facilities and luxries offred to a doctor in this country...
Talha Rehman | 10 years ago | Reply @Fahd: he probably graduated from a private med school in which case he is right about the no compensation point.
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