New Delhi: Indian TV serials are yet to graduate from saas bahu plots but Pakistani industry will now attempt to shine the light on an endemic social problem through their latest offering Doctor Bahu. Popular Pakistani actor and TV host Humayun Saeed, who recently bagged the role of Dr Hasnat Khan in the upcoming fifth season of Netflix’s The Crown, said he wants to address the problem of the shortage of practising women doctors in the country.
Saeed had on Monday expressed disappointment over a statistic, as per which a mere 25 per cent of female doctors practise medicine after completing the education, with the majority giving in to “family pressure”.
Saeed subsequently announced on Twitter that he is considering a “new project” potentially carrying a working title of Doctor Bahu to highlight the problem.
Disappointed to find out that only 1 out of 4 female doctors practice after graduation in Pakistan because of family pressure. Thinking of a new project, maybe to highlight this issue. Let’s encourage women to pursue their dreams. #DoctorBahu
— Humayun Saeed (@iamhumayunsaeed) January 31, 2022
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Imbalanced gender roles
A Twitter User related Saeed’s tweet to their cousin’s experience and the problem of coerced conformation to traditional gender roles.
“The root cause of this problem is that generally in our society, household chores & children’s upbringing are entirely the wife’s responsibility so managing the balance between job & home is hard for them,” they said.
One of my cousins is also doing the same. The root cause of this problem is that generally in our society, household chores & children's upbringing are entirely the wife's responsibility so managing the balance between job & home is hard for them.
— 💫 (@mystifying_me) January 31, 2022
“We need to find ways for them to establish a support system including husband taking some ownership of the housework and child care,” another user Tweeted.
I think most women find it c difficult to balance home and work especially when they have children. We need to find ways for them to establish a support system including husband taking some ownership of the housework and child care.
— Asadiq (@Asadiq50853012) January 31, 2022
Some users who supported Saeed’s views also offered to help the actor-producer and provide insights with regards to the issue and the project.
Coming from a family where everyone is a doctor (17 doctors across 3 generations) or studying to become one & working it is very disappointing to hear. I am so looking forward to the project based on this. Happy to provide any insight if needed.
— Alina Bari (@alinabari89) January 31, 2022
I think it’s an important social issue that is always undermined by societal pressures and cultural norms. As a doctor myself, I feel it’s the need of the hour. Great to see people speaking about it now in the open. Would love to help out in anyway possible! #DoctorBahu
— Syed Raza Shah, MD (aka Crypto Doctor) (@SyedRazaShah123) January 31, 2022
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Personal choices
While some Pakistanis said that the problem goes beyond societal expectations or familial pressures, others disagreed with Saeed entirely.
“It’s not because of family pressure rather they don’t get into profession by themselves. In most of the cases, to become a female doctor is just to target rich counterparts,” said Rashid Chaudhry on Twitter.
It’s not because of family pressure rather they don’t get into profession by themselves. In most of the cases, to become a female doctor is just to target rich counterparts.
— Rashid Chaudhry (@TheRashidCh) January 31, 2022
“[My aunt] never ever did her medical job after marriage and that too willingly. She had the option but she choose to be a housewife in America,” a user said.
My aunt, mbbs graduate from Fatimah Jinnah medical University, a gold medalist, married to a doctor obviously, settled in America, but never ever did her medical job after marriage and that too willingly. She had the option but she choose to be a housewife in America.
— whims of a waffle (@hiechorchy) January 31, 2022
Dr Nayab blamed the issue on “insane working hours” expected of doctors in Pakistan and the lack of significant day-care and maternity leave.
“36 hours shift then 12 hours at home then again you have to report at the ward early next morning. It takes a toll on the family life and kids…It’s brutal. We need to develop a better working environment,” they added.
Also most hospitals don't offer a decent day care for doctor's children and only give a 40 days maternity leave.
Doctors are expected to work their ass off even in their last trimester.
It's brutal.
We need to develop a better working environment.
— Dr Nayab (@Nayab04258632) January 31, 2022
Similar concerns have also been raised by Pakistani actress and doctor Shaista Lodhi, who recently took to Twitter expressing grief for female medicos who have not been able to practise.
Alhamdulilah for getting the opportunity to practice my medical profession. Its very sad when I saw so many girls from my batch not getting the chance to practice after they graduated.
I wish har larki ke paas choice ho itni mehnat ke baad practice karne ki.
— Dr. Shaista Lodhi (@IamShaistaLodhi) February 1, 2022
While Saeed did not provide a source for this figure, data appears to back up the narrative that there is a clear gap between matriculation rates of female students at medical schools and practising female doctors.
“While the percentage of female students in medical schools in Pakistan is as high as 80–85 per cent, the percentage of female doctors in the medical workforce remains below 50 per cent,” a November 2020 paper by Mariam Mohsin and Jawad Syed for Gender, Work & Organization journal reveals.
Efforts have been made in the past to address this discrepancy. A November 2019 paper in the UK-based British Medical Journal reported that Karachi’s Dow University of Health Sciences managed to attract 700 female doctors to practise, aiding over 1 lakh patients.
A Pioneers Post article from March 2020 not only cited a Medical Council of Pakistan figure that 23 per cent of female doctors actually practise after graduating, but also provided insights on a telemedicine company and social venture run by women and servicing low-income areas.
(Edited by Pranay Roy)