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Armeena Khan's views about Pakistan's doctor brides rubbed people the wrong way
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Armeena Khan's views about Pakistan's doctor brides rubbed people the wrong way

"Is it time to make them pay back the costs so that replacement doctors can be trained?" she wrote.
Images Staff
11 May, 2019

Armeena Rana Khan loves Twitter.

If you follow her on the social media platform, you're aware she's quite active on the micro-blogging site.

While it's refreshing to see a Pakistani celebrity who doesn't mince words, Khan does land herself in trouble sometimes like yesterday, when she tweeted about how 85,000 female doctors are not practicing after getting an qualification and it sounded like she was somehow blaming the women for it, like they've chosen to forgo their careers.

People were quick to explain to her that it's reductive to blame women for the shortage of doctors in the country as there are various structural and socio-cultural barriers to entry for them to begin with.

Like why don't we hold the families hunting for doctor bahus who don't let them practice after marriage accountable?

How about the insecure husbands who do the same?

Or should we take it all the way back and blame the family that forces their daughters to study medicine in the first place to secure those so-called rishtas?

So is she just not going to talk about the lack of day care facilities and flexible hours that drive women out of the workforce?

Nope, we just love blaming women.

Meanwhile no one will really point fingers at the male doctors who leave the country for greener pastures...

Armeena did post a clarification soon after stating that she meant the families should be held responsible but it was pretty pointless because even after that, she tweeted about how the medical profession is unlike any other so "don't choose medicine if you know the cultural barriers".

Yikes! Clearly, when people explained that choice is a privilege many women don't have in Pakistan, it seemed to go over her head.

Comments

Prateik May 11, 2019 03:38pm
Kudos to her for stating bitter truth .
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Uzair May 11, 2019 03:51pm
At ~200 Rs/ hour (private job), it is no wonder many younger doctors don't choose to work in Pakistan unless they absolutely have to. Even on the higher side it is 300-400 Rs / hour (government job). Why would I go through all the trouble, if I can make more selling burgers? It makes even less sense for the ladies, when you can sit at home with none of the hassle. A successful private practice, is the only lucrative model at the moment. Which it itself requires going through all the trouble, and even then it is not guaranteed. Regarding government funded college seats, there used to be a penalty for not serving a minimum number of years at a government institutions (there probably still is). How well it was enforced, I never had the opportunity to see. Back then it was 3 years of service, or else pay 300,000 Rs. The amount was suggested to be increased to match the prevailing rate, but I don't know what happened. This mechanism seems reasonable.
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Aman May 11, 2019 03:51pm
Doctors are are one of the most precious assets of Pakistan regardless if they are male or female, and they should be facilitated well in Pakistan to serve the need of Pakistani patients. Pakistani doctors are one of the best doctors in the world and Pakistan should use them for medical tourists or treatment for foreigners patients to make huge money for Pakistan and its health system.
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M. Saeed May 11, 2019 04:13pm
Who doesn't want money? If we make doctor's profession safe for women, why would they opt for kitchen and baby sitting?
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Secular Pathan May 11, 2019 04:44pm
She is right and so cute :)
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HashBrown® May 11, 2019 05:00pm
I have to confess, I clicked on this article just to look at Armeena Khan.
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Ali May 11, 2019 05:13pm
Who cares about what she says
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Favad Qaisar May 11, 2019 06:13pm
Very well said
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M. Shahid Yousuf May 11, 2019 06:16pm
Regardless of ones views, a running discussion on this half a century old topic is essential. Blaming the messenger defeats this purpose.
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Asfand Iqbal May 11, 2019 06:17pm
Armeena you are to the point. A doctor costs the state no less 30 lack which is wasted if doctors do not come on the field. Yes they should pay to the state
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usman May 11, 2019 06:22pm
its free country young lady! Everyone has a choice to study whatever they wish for and then to continue to work in same discipline or to switch or NOT to work at all! She is asking the WRONG question.
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tariq May 11, 2019 06:25pm
Sorry but my sister is in the profession and has worked all the way to retirement. These woman who are complaining must prove that are willing and able to work. Any excuses are just that!Excuses.
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NewBorn May 11, 2019 07:03pm
It's true. Young female doctors do get wedded into upper class families, which is why many parents force their daughters to join medical schools.
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Marlin US May 11, 2019 07:39pm
I know at least 5 Pakistani MBBS female doctors, married to Pakistani engineers and IT professionals, who are nothing more than a 'baby producing machines'. Three of them are DOW graduates one from Jamshoro and one from SMC. They are not even allowed to use the prefix of Dr. because all they are right now is a 'house wife'. They did not pass the ECFMG but they occupied 5 MBBS seats which could have gone to "practicing males". On the other hand we have many more Hindu female doctors coming from India.
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Doctorni May 11, 2019 07:41pm
Anyone who receives education subsidized by public funds, as is case for most medical education in Pakistan, should be contributing back by practicing medicine or allied professions.
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Khan May 11, 2019 08:24pm
I agree with AK!
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shahid May 11, 2019 08:43pm
Armeena is absolutely right.Woman in this day and age should put the condition before marriage that they will not be stopped practicing their profession. If quota system is still surviving in the country their should be 70/30 quota m/f for medical college seats.in this day and age no excuse not to practice medical profession is acceptable.
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Pakamat May 11, 2019 08:46pm
It's fine if you have spent your own funds to become doctors and after graduation never practice. I think Armeena Khan is talking about public funds being used to train doctors who never intend to practice. There should be a clause that says you must either work for 4-5 years in Pakistan after graduation or pay back the $$$ of public money spent on you.
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N abidai May 11, 2019 08:56pm
Areemina is right,waste of money,by the parents, lost of future doctors that are badly needed, regressive mind sets of men,who only wants wives at home! Why then not get degree in other fields ?
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Secularist May 11, 2019 09:25pm
A Pakistani student of mine, even 25 years after graduation, keeps in touch with me. He married a bright young doctor from Islamabad. Promptly, he told her not to work and be a full time homemaker. After initially encouraging her to pursue her career, I stopped when I found her helpless. His argument was that as an IT professional he makes enough money to take care of her and the kids. He did not want her to put in 60-80 hour weeks doing residency, and being "on call" over the weekends. At some level it may be a rational decision. But, every time I meet her, I detect wistful tears in her eyes. I am not at all sure that she had a significant say in the matter.
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Tabish Ayaz May 12, 2019 12:36am
When you admit that it was an inside joke, then why on earth would anybody publish it on social media. Given that its an age of political correctness, atleast she must have apologised for her preposterous assumptions judging the whole lot afterwards.
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sk9595 May 12, 2019 12:55am
who is armeena khan. is she actor, singer, what is she apart from twitter?
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Amir May 12, 2019 01:05am
But it is a fact that many ladies who avail coveted seats in the government run Medical colleges , don't practice. Many of the candidates who would have made dedicated physicians are left out. It does cost tax payer money to train a physician. They should sign a bond at the time of their admission . If they refuse , a tuition fee may be charged. It's rather silly to blame others for their failure to serve. Just call " a spade , a spade ".
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DAAR May 12, 2019 02:58am
85000 Where is this figure coming from ?
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Saad May 12, 2019 03:08am
She is actually quite right. U know
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Basharat Qamar May 12, 2019 04:10am
This is a very legitimate concern. Should be discussed in detail. Unfortunately, we have so many issues like this in our evolving society but our media is only focused on politics. There is a great room to discuss such social issues to create awareness. Armeena Khan you picked a good topic
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Basharat Qamar May 12, 2019 04:12am
Please someone should work on the topic of Hair lose in Men and skin color of women, to make them non Issues. As these are the big non sense of our society.
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Amjad Durrani Engineer USA May 12, 2019 05:01am
The question arises why these TV artists stay in their domain of show business instead of creating such unneccesary controversies through their diatribe on social issues for which they stand unqualified? PERIOD.
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fairplay May 12, 2019 05:42am
Armeena provided a rational view, and got a vociferous emotional response. The language of the responders says it all. Make all doctors sign a surety bond to serve for 5 years, or give up their seat to someone who will. The views she expressed are accurate, strongly support her statement.
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DFF May 12, 2019 08:50am
She is 100% correct.
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SkyHawk May 12, 2019 10:01am
Armeena Khan is 100% right.
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Laila May 13, 2019 12:36am
Her comment is valid. You may not like it but it is spot on. The root cause is deliberate exclusion of women from society. The system, culture and society are inherently patriarch and misogynist. So until we address that, education used to convey social status will not change. I feel women should be forced to practise and give back to society once they start medical studies. It should be a clause for acceptance. We actually need female doctors!!!
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sana May 13, 2019 03:15am
She is right and no one has any answers so they are attacking her
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sana May 13, 2019 03:18am
She is right this is a problem stop attacking her and look for solutions
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Col S K Rana (Retd) May 13, 2019 06:37am
I feel sorry for all oppressed groups in Pakistan, be it women, minorities or children. The mindset is both regressive and cruel which does not permit enlightenment but perpetuate religious bigotry and male domination. Such society cannot hope to be humane and it cannot develop scientific temper. It can only be a breeding ground of half baked jihadists and not doctors, engineers, economists and teachers. Whenever I see Pak TV talkshows I am apalled at the ignorance of participants except few and level of discussions.
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Swaran Singh May 13, 2019 08:39am
Write on TRIPLE TALAQ AND HALALA PREVALENT IN INDIAN MUSLIM SOCIETY
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Bilal Sarfraz May 13, 2019 12:31pm
I agree with her completely.
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Saira May 13, 2019 05:55pm
@Marlin US , i know many more in Canada and US who acquired velnerable seats just to become house wives with blue passport, they are so rich can spend $$$ on designer cloths why can't thay pay back Pakistani Tax payers.
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