PIMA convention to discuss challenges faced by healthcare system 

KARACHI: The 27th Biennial Convention of the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) beginning on Saturday (Sept 21) here will discuss the growing crisis faced by the country’s healthcare system, marked by a mass exodus of doctors, a widening gender disparity within the medical workforce, and an urgent need for digital transformation.

The two-day PIMA convention, scheduled for 21-22 September 2024 at Karachi Expo, will address these critical issues through 15 scientific sessions covering topics such as the physician-pharmaceutical industry relationship, women’s health, and the role of artificial intelligence in medicine. Pre-convention workshops, currently taking place in six cities, are focusing on various medical topics.

Jamaat-e-Islami Central Ameer, Engineer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, is also scheduled to address the convention, emphasising the intersection between healthcare reform and broader social issues.

The professionals gathering at the convention from across the country will suggest actionable solutions to the challenges of digitalising healthcare systems, closing the gender gap in the medical workforce, and preventing the continued migration of medical talent from Pakistan.

In the lead-up to the convention, newly-elected PIMA President Prof Dr. Atif Hafeez Siddiqui, alongside senior members, including Prof. Dr. Sohail Akhtar, Prof. Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz, Karachi President Prof. Dr. Abdullah Muttaqi, and Prof. Dr. Abdul Malik, underscored the need for immediate healthcare reforms.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, Prof. Siddiqui highlighted that 35pc of female doctors in Pakistan stop practising after completing their medical education due to a lack of supportive infrastructure. Among the 65pc who continue, only 20-25pc work full-time.

"This gap requires urgent attention. We must explore ways to engage these women, potentially through telemedicine, which proved highly effective during the Covid-19 pandemic," he remarked.

Addressing the alarming trend of doctors’ migration, Prof. Siddiqui revealed that 40-50pc of male medical graduates aspire to work abroad, with 25-30pc already practising overseas.

He attributed this to feelings of being underpaid and undervalued. "We are losing our brightest minds. The first heart transplant in Pakistan was performed by a doctor trained abroad—this exemplifies the magnitude of our brain drain," he commented.

Prof. Siddiqui also stressed the importance of digitalising the Sindh health department to increase transparency, eliminate ghost employees, and streamline processes such as staff postings and data management.

"Bureaucratic hurdles are obstructing doctors, and digitalisation could simplify even minor tasks like leave applications," he explained.

Former Sindh caretaker health minister, Prof. Saad Khalid Niaz, advocated for health insurance schemes in Sindh similar to those already in place in other provinces. "Billions are allocated to various health institutions, but inefficiencies within the Secretariat continue to undermine the healthcare profession," he said, adding that digital reforms could significantly address these issues.

PIMA leaders also voiced concerns about the pharmacy sector, calling for reforms similar to those in Punjab, where only qualified pharmacists are permitted to dispense medications. They further raised alarms over unqualified doctors and urged the government to offer free essential testing, citing the UK model, which provides free diagnostic tests for diabetes patients.

Prof. Abdullah Muttaqi highlighted that one of the key objectives of the convention is to develop a unified policy for medical laboratories across Pakistan. PIMA currently operates 50 free diabetes clinics and four free eye hospitals nationwide, and the association aims to advocate for standardised laboratory practices during the event.

Other major topics of discussion will include human milk banks, organ transplantation, transgender healthcare, and healthcare challenges in Palestine.