‘Corruption, brain drain pushing Pakistan’s healthcare sector into crisis’

Former chairman of the Sindh Healthcare Commission, Dr Tipu Sultan, criticized Pakistan’s failing healthcare system, calling it riddled with corruption and inefficiency.

“It’s shocking that we rank 127th in healthcare globally. Honestly, we deserve to be much lower,” Sultan remarked during a podcast with Kamran Khan.

He lamented that doctors prioritize money over ethical patient care. “Doctors today see patient volumes as income opportunities. If you want to serve more patients, spend five hours rather than rushing through consultations,” he said. Sultan emphasized that listening to patients and proper diagnosis are now often bypassed for unnecessary CT scans and MRIs.

Pakistan’s healthcare sector also grapples with doctor shortages due to brain drain. Sultan explained that most medical graduates leave for opportunities abroad, exacerbating the crisis. “Of the 18,000 doctors produced annually, 80% are women. Yet many leave the workforce post-marriage, leaving emergency and night duties severely understaffed.”

The issue is compounded by unethical ties between doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Sultan accused local pharma firms of encouraging malpractice. “Pharma companies bribe doctors to overprescribe medications, while hospitals engage in overbilling.”

Meanwhile, government hospitals suffer from medicine mismanagement. Sultan claimed that corruption siphons off as much as 90% of healthcare budgets. “If 100 rupees are allocated, only 10 to 20 rupees’ worth of medicine reaches patients.”

Highlighting gaps in oversight, Sultan criticized the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for unchecked medicine registrations, which allow pharmaceutical mafias to flourish.

Sultan called for systemic reforms to restore integrity, enforce accountability, and improve patient care standards. Without significant changes, he warned, Pakistan’s healthcare crisis will deepen further.