FREE MEDICINES: Millions received Covid vaccines for free, but cancer patients and diabetics still pay thousands for chemotherapy and insulin. Every day, families are forced to choose between life and bankruptcy. This is not just unfair, it is tragic. If a global pandemic can justify free vaccines, why are chronic, life-threatening illnesses being treated differently? Denying access to essential medicines kills silently, deepens inequality, and punishes the vulnerable. Survival should never depend on income. Policymakers must act now to make essential life-saving treatment a matter of right, not privilege.
Fiza Mushtaq
Karachi
PRACTICING EMPATHY: During my clinical career as a resident physician, and also as a patient, I have seen that some healthcare professionals and nursing staff do not consistently practice empathy in handling procedures. This lack of compassionate care results in traumatic experiences for most patients. It is essential for all medical staff to maintain a caring attitude during procedures in both out-patient and inpatient settings. Showing gentleness not only enhances the patient experience, but also strengthens the reputation of physicians and hospitals. Hospitals should organise workshops to train nursing staff about handling medical procedures with due empathy and care.
Dr Mehwish Niaz
Sargodha
LAWN SUITS: A basic three-piece lawn suit now costs between Rs7,000 and Rs10,000, whereas unstitched fabric alone costs Rs4,000 to Rs5,000, with no improvement in quality. Social media influencers casually review suits priced at Rs30,000 and flag minor quality concerns as if the price itself is not the more serious problem. This is not simply about escalating prices. It is about who bears those costs most disproportionately. The concept of pink tax extends far beyond hygiene. It shows up in clothing standards, in the social expectation that women maintain a certain appearance, and in how expensive it has quietly become to simply exist as a woman in this country.
Memoona Masoom
Karachi
Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2026