BEING a doctor is considered a prestigious job, but doctors’ salaries in private hospitals in Hyderabad do not match the social respect the doctors usually enjoy. Becoming a doctor requires years of rigorous study, hard work and a significant financial investment in education, books and trainings. Despite this, many doctors who do not secure government jobs are left with no choice, but to work in private hospitals where salaries are alarmingly low.

Shockingly, most private hospitals pay doctors between Rs30,000 and Rs40,000 per month, just a fraction of what their counterparts in government service earn. To put this into perspective, even government-employed peons and sweepers receive salaries around Rs50,000. How can a doctor, who has dedicated years to medical education, be expected to survive on such meagre earnings?

This financial strain demoralises doctors and affects their ability to provide quality healthcare. If doctors are underpaid and struggling financially, they cannot be expected to give their 100 per cent to patient care.

The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) is responsible for maintaining healthcare quality, but it must also ensure that doctors are compensated fairly. Along with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), a minimum salary package for doctors in private hospitals should be mandated.

Shockingly, the salaries currently offered are even lower than what doctors receive during their house jobs. This exploitation needs urgent attention.

The authorities should take immediate action to establish fair wage regulations for doctors in private hospitals. A profession as vital as medicine should not be undervalued, as it directly impacts the health and wellbeing of the public.

Dr Mubashir Hussain Shaikh
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2025