Medical brain drain

This letter refers to the news report ‘Record 1,061 Pakistanis secure US residencies’ (April 9, 2025). This development is framed as something that should make us feel proud of our medical education system. But what about the brain drain? When so many talented professionals leave, it is a loss for Pakistan’s healthcare system, which already struggles with shortages.

Perhaps higher salaries, better working conditions and advanced facilities abroad are hard to compete with, but we know that those local hospitals that have such facilities do attract and retain top Pakistani medical talent. We need more such hospitals.

Mariam Khan

Lahore