PESHAWAR, Dec 20: Even though girls join medical colleges in increasing numbers now, taboos and marital constraints stop most of them from practising medicine. Interviews with professors and students have revealed that a large number of female students of the Khyber Medical College never join the profession. This is particularly true of those who get married after graduating from the institution.

Almost half the students in the college -- the largest public sector medical college in the province -- are girls but only about half of them are known to practise medicine after completing their education. “The main reason for fewer women doctors as compared to men is that most of the girls are not allowed by their families to work,” said a female doctor.

KMC principal Prof Fazal Ahmad said social restrictions, particularly those imposed by spouses, hold girl medical graduates from becoming practising doctors.

Describing this a tragedy, he said about half of seats for girl students went wasted because girls occupied the seats but did not join the profession after completing education.

“There is no gender discrimination in this field as woman doctors have been given equal opportunities,” he said. He said the government was aware of the problem but could do nothing to solve it.

Prof Ahmad said woman doctors were required in the country, especially in remote areas. He said the problem might be solved if the government announced some incentives for woman doctors.

“When a girl joins the profession her marital life and children become a secondary priority for her,” claimed Aizaz Khattak, a second year student of the KMC. “I’ll never allow my wife to become a working woman, leaving our children to stay in day-care centres.”

“The main problem in our society is the lack of education. We are unaware of the importance of women in a civilised society. That is why working women do not get the respect they deserve” said Nazish, a first year student.

Students also said that medical was a lengthy and tough field and after graduating most of girls got frustrated and did not want to join the profession.

“Medicine is a professional degree and we can practise it any time even after marriage,” said Abeera, a fourth year student, adding that this was the reason most of parents wanted their daughters to become doctors.