Fake documents, fake doctors

Fake degrees and admissions threaten healthcare integrity while honest students pay the price

The recent government investigation that found forged documents were used in at least 200 medical admissions in Sindh alone is a huge blot on medical education in the country at a time when seats are already limited and third-class foreign schools are conning aspiring doctors out of millions for substandard training.

Even at a limited scale, the use of fake documents can have a huge impact, as it steals opportunities from deserving, honest candidates, corrupting meritocracy. In addition, it poses a direct threat to public safety as doctors are not only expected to have a certain skill set, but also a moral and ethical compass to guide patients and their families through difficult times. Many doctors end up quitting because maintaining that moral compass is emotionally taxing. Here, it seems at least some of the people becoming doctors had already lost theirs before entering medical school.

This epidemic also extends far beyond admissions. Fake diplomas and degrees, and even fabricated employment histories, are often used by unethical people to move up in the world, and while reliable data on the extent of the problem is hard to find, there is no doubt that the tools for fraud, from high-quality counterfeits to digital manipulation, are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Unfortunately, the lack of consequences means that the only way the government and other regulators try to address fake documents is through light fines. These have little punitive effect and are regarded by some as the cost of doing 'business'. Meanwhile, honest students are forced to jump through extra hoops at their own time and expense, meaning that their education-related costs are rising through no fault of theirs.

Combating this requires systemic, proactive vigilance from all institutions, including expanded use of AI detection tools and higher education standards for all parties. The integrity of professions that safeguard our health and society cannot be compromised.