In Pakistan, accessing competent and professional medical care often requires paying premium fees at
top private hospitals like Aga Khan or CMH. Many skilled doctors leave the country at the first opportunity, while a large number of students pursue medical degrees—some from institutions with questionable standards, both locally and abroad.
As a result, the overall quality of medical professionals can vary significantly. Many doctors find it difficult to earn a stable, halal income solely through clinical practice in Pakistan, prompting some to shift careers—into media, business, or even emigration.
It's not uncommon to encounter Pakistani doctors abroad working in non-medical roles due to challenges like passing licensing exams. In the UK, some manage to work in primary care through the NHS.
In Pakistan, being a "Doctor" is a status symbol so now...
To give you an idea of the problem, the yearly tuition expenses for
Ziauddin University (Karachi) MBBS program for a local is roughly 1,700,000 Pakistani Rupees (5979.82 USD) which is an upper Tier medical school. There are following problems with a high end school:
- It is a good university so average to below Pakistani students will find it hard to get in
- It is extremely expensive for an average Pakistani once they get in
- Clinical Placement is average at best
- After graduating, the earning potential in Pakistan is minimal after all the financial investment which is put in
- There s no USMLE preparation so graduates will find it extremely difficult to practice in US and newly qualified Doctors will not get into Middle East or Europe
- So after graduation from an upper Tier medical school, a student has no choice but to try to get out and specialize or try to work somewhere else (Internationally)
Due to reasons 1 & 2 a large number of Pakistani students waste their parents money and study in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan etc.
There are dozens of Private Medical Schools in Pakistan who take the money and churn out "Doctors" like potatoes every year.
During Imran Khan Government, they tried to address this issue by working on multiple MOUs so Pakistani Doctors can do clinical placements in African nations under International Aid organizations at subsided rates (from Pakistan Government) to get Internationally recognized experience and practice to kick start their careers.