Non-practicing women doctors may work online
Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has launched e-Doctor Phase 2.0 programme to train female doctors, who had left practice due to marriage or family obligations, in providing consultation online via smartphones.
The programme aimed to reintegrate the women doctors back into the medical field was initiated in 2018 through a partnership between DUHS and Educast. Due to its vast potential, the project received financial support from the Islamic Development Bank.
As per reports, over 30,000 female MBBS graduates in Pakistan are not practicing medicine, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately Rs35 billion to the national treasury.
In the first phase, over 1,500 female doctors from 27 countries were trained in collaboration with Germany and Stanford University. The e-Doctor programme provided healthcare services in countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Palestine, and Pakistan. During Pakistan's recent floods, the programme provided immediate digital medical assistance to affected areas.
The e-Doctor services were also utilized on the Bridge platform for elderly care. The program will provide doctors with modern online certification, observational training at partner clinics, and access to virtual clinics, enabling the patients to consult doctors via smartphones.
Prof Dr Jahan Ara Hasan, Acting Vice Chancellor of DUHS, said that this is not just a programme but a movement that is becoming a means for female doctors to reconnect with medicine in a dignified manner.
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