DOCTORS are often referred to as ‘life-savers’. It is true that their services to the nation, especially during the Covid pandemic, cannot be ignored, but there are some serious concerns about their mistreatment of patients. That should not be ignored either.

Despite the fact that my parents consider going to a public-sector hospital for treatment a waste of time, I have had many opportunities to visit various government hospitals in different cities of Pakistan, including Wah Cantt, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Abbottabad.

During such interactions, I have observed a common occurrence in all government hospitals; the mistreatment of patients by doctors. Not everyone can avoid going to public hospitals due to economic woes, and in any case that should not matter either. Public-sector hospitals need to be functional.

It is as simple as that. At least, the doctors working there can surely afford to be humane in their approach. It does not cost a dime, does it?

With deep concerns in my heart regarding the plight of the poor, I am compelled to question why this critical issue continues to be ignored and why no one is taking decisive action to address it.

The suffering patients and their families desperately need kindness and mercy during their critical time. Instead, they receive just the opposite.

The government should take action to regulate the conduct of doctors in public-sector hospitals.

This can be achieved by recruiting an adequate number of doctors to reduce workload, providing some specialised behavioural training, establishing efficient complaint cells, and, above all, imple- menting strict checks on the conduct of doctors in their dealings with patients.

Nabgha Rasti
Sialkot

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2023