Nearly six out of every ten doctors suffer from burnout, and suicide rates among physicians are almost twice as high as those in the general population — yet only one in three ever seeks professional mental health support, medical experts warned at a scientific symposium examining the growing crisis within Pakistan’s healthcare workforce.
The discussion, centred on the question “Who heals the healers?”, highlighted how a system dependent on relentless endurance is quietly exhausting its own frontline professionals.
Cardiologists and mental health specialists pointed to punishing work schedules, overwhelming patient volumes, chronic sleep deprivation, and environmental stressors such as traffic congestion and air pollution as key contributors to declining physical and emotional wellbeing among doctors. They said a deeply ingrained culture that glorifies resilience over rest has left physicians with little room for self-care, effectively making them the most neglected patients in the healthcare system.
The concerns were raised during Life in a Metro, a nationwide scientific symposium held under Mediverse, an academic platform of Hudson Pharma Pakistan. The initiative focuses on evidence-based medicine while addressing the unique mental and physical health challenges faced by doctors working in major metropolitan centres.
The session was moderated by Dr Saniya Javaid, who noted that stress levels among doctors are significantly higher in large cities such as Lahore. She added that seasonal factors — including winter-related depression aggravated by fog and smog — further intensify anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and low mood among healthcare professionals.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr M Rehan Omar Siddiqui described physician burnout as a silent global epidemic that is becoming increasingly visible in Pakistan. Citing international research, he said approximately 60 percent of doctors experience burnout, while suicide rates among physicians are nearly double those of the general population.
Despite these alarming figures, Dr Siddiqui said most doctors avoid seeking help. Many continue working while unwell, relying on self-diagnosis rather than proper medical care — a practice he described as both dangerous and deeply ingrained in medical culture.
He explained that doctors commonly suffer from depression, anxiety, substance misuse, poor dietary habits, lack of exercise, chronic sleep deprivation, and missed medical check-ups — despite routinely advising patients to prioritise these same health behaviours.
According to Dr Siddiqui, time pressures, guilt, stigma, and a “superhuman” or macho mindset remain major barriers to acknowledging vulnerability. “We speak endlessly about ‘do no harm’, yet many doctors are quietly harming themselves,” he said, warning that institutions often distance themselves from physicians after years of service, leaving them isolated during illness or retirement.
He urged healthcare professionals to prioritise adequate sleep, regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, mindfulness, and emotional wellbeing. At the same time, he called on hospital leadership to encourage teamwork, delegation, and more realistic workloads.
“A healthy doctor delivers better care,” he said. “Staying healthy is not a luxury — it is a professional responsibility.”
