Exploitation in Hospitals? Young Doctors Work 92-Hour Weeks for Less Pay

News Desk

Islamabad: A heated session of the Senate Standing Committee on Health on Tuesday laid bare the stark disparities in stipends paid to house officers in federal hospitals, prompting strong condemnation from lawmakers and urgent calls for corrective action.

The issue was brought to light by Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, who revealed that house officers serving in Islamabad’s federal institutions—including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS)—are paid approximately Rs. 104,000 per month, significantly less than their peers in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where stipends can reach up to Rs. 150,000.

“These young doctors have completed 25 years of education and are working 92-hour weeks. Many of them are supporting their families. This amount is simply not right,” Senator Mohmand said, condemning the pay gap as “indefensible” and “demoralizing.”

Committee members echoed his sentiments, calling the practice unjust and a disservice to frontline healthcare workers undergoing their mandatory post-graduation training. Several senators went further, highlighting reports that some hospitals require house officers to work without any pay at all, labeling the practice “exploitation” and a failure of the system to protect its youngest medical professionals.

The criticism prompted a measured response from the Federal Health Minister, who acknowledged the validity of the concerns. “We understand the hardship. I have already instructed my office to conduct a comprehensive review. But we are also constrained by limited resources,” he said, adding that discussions were underway to align federal stipends more closely with provincial standards.

Despite the assurance, committee members stressed the need for swift and concrete action. “House officers are the backbone of our healthcare system. If we continue to treat them unfairly, we risk demoralizing an entire generation of doctors,” one senator warned.

The committee has recommended that the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination urgently present a policy roadmap to address the pay disparities and ensure fair treatment of house officers across all federal healthcare facilities.