Denying treatment

First: an admission of guilt. I have been part of the doctors’ protests and strikes in my younger days. So all those who will blame me of preaching what I didn’t practise myself in the past have a point. But even then I learned very quickly that by going on strike we go against those who had nothing to do with our grievances. They have no other place to go except government hospitals. Think about your own family at a time of need and imagine the only hospital you could go is closed.

The medical profession in Pakistan has been abused and belittled by not only the lawyer’s mob this week, but for decades by anyone who had even a little bit of power. The brightest minds of our country were shown their worth by silencing them and not listening to their issues in government secretariats. Most of our own senior professors forgot to take care of their younger lot once they got their promotions. Anyone who raised their voice like Professor Eice Muhammad were not only relieved of their duties but also jailed. Then came the mushroom growth of medical colleges benefiting the rich mafia that minted millions if not billions of rupees while disregarding the regulations of the now-defunct Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). Again, if an honest government official like Dr Sohail Karim Hashmi (registrar) tried stopping this illegal activity, they were permanently removed from their position.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) which was once the most reputable professional organisation was also hijacked by a small group that retained the leadership. This divided the PMA into multiple inefficient sections. With the profession inducting young doctors who did not receive the same attention from their seniors as us, their growing problems resulted in the founding of the Young Doctors Association (YDA). But we should not look at the birth and operating practices of the YDA in isolation. Our country and society was going through a similar transformation. Each successive political government was weakened by sponsored mobs and sit-ins. The victims became the collaborators and the society realised that protection can only be found in numbers. That is how mob mentality flourished in our society — as a sign of a lack of justice for the common people.

However once I took oath as a medical doctor, I lost the right to deny treatment for any reason. Even if an injured soldier of an invading army were to come to me, I must treat him like I treat my kind. Once I started a small family practice in Lahore, many referred to my clinic as a shop. However, I disagree with the term because patients would receive treatment irrespective of their ability to pay. I believe this also holds true for the numerous family physicians across the country.

To ensure that one of the most educated groups of our society does not feel frustrated and we don’t lose the best doctors to foreign countries, as a society we need to take action. Until the 1980s many of the health secretaries, at least from Punjab, were working health professionals. This is a technical department and needs to be run by those who understand the complexities of the profession. Like the US in the last century, the number of medical colleges needs to be reduced and the quality improved. Doctors should at least be facilitated, paid and promoted like other graduates in government services. A bad lawyer could lose your case and there will be a remedial measure after that. However a bad doctor could put your life at risk with no second chance. So pay attention and take care of the doctors!

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2019.

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