Karachi: Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has raised significant concerns regarding the challenges faced by medical practitioners, including harassment and unauthorized interference in their professional duties. The association called for immediate action to address these issues, highlighting the potential consequences for healthcare services.

According to Pakistan Islamic Medical Association, its Central President, Prof. Atif Hafeez Siddiqui, condemned the harassment of medical staff by governmental and administrative authorities, emphasizing the misuse of power in medical workplaces. He criticized practices such as unauthorized photography and video recording of doctors during their duties, which he argued not only harm professional reputations but also breach patient confidentiality.

Prof. Siddiqui pointed out that non-professional interference and undue pressure in medical environments demoralize healthcare workers, potentially impacting the quality of care provided to patients. He also highlighted the exploitation of young doctors in private hospitals, citing issues such as low salaries, unclear duty hours, and excessive workloads as prevalent concerns.

The association expressed its support for the demands of young doctors, advocating for salary increases, fair distribution of work hours, and the implementation of labor regulations. The statement also drew attention to the alarming number of vacant seats in medical education, attributing this issue to declining interest in the field due to the aforementioned challenges. Prof. Siddiqui warned that if these trends persist, the public may have to resort to unreliable sources for medical treatment.