Achi news desk-
Dr. Arshad says out of the total number of deaths, 150 children lose their lives due to congenital abnormalities every day
Almost 7,000 babies and children die in Pakistan every day, of which 150 children lose their lives due to congenital abnormalities, on average mainly due to a severe shortage of pediatric surgeons, according to health experts.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arshad, President of the Association of Pediatric Surgeons of Pakistan (APSP), said that about 2.5 million new-born children die every year and a large number of these children can be saved by increasing the number of pediatric surgeons and raising them at the District Headquarters (DHQ) in patients across Pakistan.”
Pakistan needs at least 1,250 pediatric surgeons, but only about 160-170 are practicing today.
According to Dr. Arshad, about 33% of Pakistan’s population consists of children under the age of 15, but only 0.2 pediatric surgeons are available per 100,000 people in Pakistan, while in the US, where nearly 16% of the population is under 15, the ratio is 2.6 pediatric surgeons per 100,000 people.
“Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of death in Pakistan, while thousands more children die due to trauma and other health conditions, including cancer, kidney stones and others. If we have the required number of pediatric surgeons serving in public health facilities at the district level, most of these precious lives can be saved ,” noted Dr. Arshad, who serves as the Academic Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the National Liaquat Hospital Karachi.
Talks with Geographical News In connection with the World Children’s Surgery Day 2024 observed on April 7 (today), he said that although specialized children’s hospitals were now being set up in major cities, including Lahore and Karachi, he regretted that they were overburdened. Children who need elective surgeries often have to wait five to six months for their turn, causing serious, life-threatening complications.
“Often when children who need surgery are brought to special medical centers, due to the delay in diagnosis, they have already developed complications, including sepsis, which makes it very difficult to treat them and many of them die even after surgeries and treatments,” he claimed. .
Prof. Arshad said that pediatric surgeons have a crucial role in providing special care to babies, children and adolescents, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of surgical conditions unique to this population. However, the shortage of these skilled professionals has strained the health care infrastructure and hindered access to timely and quality surgical care for children in need.
“The shortage of pediatric surgeons in Pakistan is multifaceted, stemming from various challenges in the healthcare system. One major issue is the limited number of training programs and educational opportunities available to aspiring pediatric surgeons. Despite the growing demand for pediatric surgical services, there are only a handful of institutions in Pakistan that offer formal training in pediatric surgery. This lack of training programs has contributed to the paucity of qualified pediatric surgeons entering the workforce,” he said.
Due to the lack of opportunities and jobs in the public sector, every year dozens of skilled and qualified pediatric surgeons leave Pakistan for Europe, America and the Middle East, where they are welcomed with open arms, he said, but claimed that pediatric surgeons would be happy to serve if given opportunities and incentives in their country.
He noted that the existing pediatric surgical workforce in Pakistan faces significant workload pressures and resource constraints. Many pediatric surgeons are overworked, leading to burnout and fatigue. Additionally, inadequate access to essential surgical equipment, facilities, and support staff further exacerbates the challenges pediatric surgeons face in providing optimal care to their patients.
“The shortage of pediatric surgeons has profound implications for the health outcomes of children in Pakistan. Delayed or inadequate surgical interventions can result in complications, long-term disabilities and even loss of life for pediatric patients,” he said, adding that the lack of access to specialized pediatric surgical care disproportionately affects populations Vulnerability, including low-income children. Rural families and communities, who may face barriers in accessing health services.
“It is necessary to increase the exposure of medical students to pediatric surgery and to strengthen the training programs for pediatric surgery throughout the country. This includes increasing the number of residency positions, improving the quality of training and providing opportunities for continuing medical education and professional development for practicing pediatric surgeons. In addition, investing in the infrastructure and resources of health services is essential to support pediatric surgical services,” he suggested.
Other experts believe that initiatives to encourage medical students to pursue careers in pediatric surgery, such as scholarships, grants and loan forgiveness programs, can help attract and retain talented people in this specialty. Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and telemedicine initiatives can help expand the reach of pediatric surgical services to underserved areas and improve access to care for children in remote areas.
