Should Doctor Brides be held Responsible For Doctors' Shortage in Pakistan?

What is it about?

According to the Pakistan Medical Council asserts that a significant factor contributing to the shortage of medical doctors in Pakistan is the presence of a substantial number of non-practicing women doctors. According to PMC's data, women's enrollment in medical schools outnumbers that of men by a substantial 80%. However, a notable 50% of female medical graduates either do not enter the workforce or leave their careers prematurely. It's important to highlight that the nationwide shortage of over 178,000 doctors was determined based on the count of doctors registered with PMC. Unfortunately, this figure does not accurately represent the actual number of doctors actively practicing in hospitals. Specifically, out of the 127,468 registered women doctors, only 63,734 are assumed to be actively practicing in hospitals, constituting a small proportion. This phenomenon indicates that the increase in the number of female medical graduates has not resulted in a corresponding increase in the number of actively practicing doctors. Similarly, approximately 85,000 women doctors in Pakistan are not currently practicing medicine. In this context, numerous newspaper articles, blogs, social media posts, and television ads have generated significant attention by sparking intense debates that suggest that women in Pakistan pursue medical careers primarily to secure desirable marriage proposals, a phenomenon referred to as the "Doctor-bride Sensation". Many in the community have been critical of female doctors, alleging that they choose medical careers solely for personal benefit, rather than to serve the country. However, considering the difficult circumstances that employed women often encounter in Pakistan, it seems that this narrative may be biased, and the phenomenon warrants a more comprehensive examination.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The doctor shortage poses a significant problem for authorities and healthcare, as it strains resources and impacts healthcare quality. Financially, it costs about $25,000 to educate a medical student, while they are charged only $1,000 for a five-year degree. This has resulted in a shortage of 178,440 doctors against a demand for 450,000. Consequently, this healthcare workforce crisis is reflected in Pakistan's low physician-to-population ratio (1.1 per 1,000) and poor rankings in global health indicators. The country has a low Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.560 (ranked 152 out of 189), and it's ranked 122 out of 191 countries by the World Health Organization (WHO) in terms of healthcare quality. In the global Healthcare Access and Quality Index (HAQ), Pakistan is ranked 154 out of 191 countries, signifying challenges in healthcare access and quality with a high disease burden. In a nation with a population of 225.5 million, the persistent lack of medical doctors carries significant consequences for society. Multiple parties, including health authorities, public discourse, and media figures, have placed blame on non-practicing female doctors for the country's overall healthcare worker shortage. Back in 2014, the PMC proposed a solution to address the doctor shortage by suggesting a limitation on the admission of women to 50 percent of the total. However, this proposal is currently in a state of suspension due to a legal challenge in the Punjab High Court of Pakistan.