KARACHI: doctHERs, a digital health platform has partnered with the Ministry of Health Services Regulations and Coordination and has launched a digital telemedicine matchmaking platform “Yaran-e-Watan”, linking healthcare professionals in the Pakistani diaspora with telemedicine providers to provide free of cost consultations to the Pakistani public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign doctors can now register themselves to volunteer their services at the Yaran e Watan website: http://yaranewatan.gov.pk/. Key telemedicine players like doctHERs, which have access to thousands of Pakistani patients who need consultations, will enable these overseas doctors to consult with those in need free of cost. doctHERs and its partner oladoc.com, an appointment booking platform, will be joining forces here as well to service this demand in line with their overarching strategic partnership.
This commendable effort by the Federal Government is a golden opportunity for overseas Paksitani healthcare professionals to give back to their country in this time of great need. Mr. Khaqan Sikander, CEO, doctHERs remarked on the occasion, “There has always been a massive shortage of healthcare professionals in the Pakistani healthcare system and the situation has worsened in this pandemic. As per WHO, there are an estimated 0.82 doctors and 0.57 nurses per 1,000 people in Pakistan. This is worsened by the fact that almost 80% of female doctors that graduate in Pakistan don’t end up practicing medicine due to socio-cultural reasons. doctHERs was launched in 2015 to address this problem and therefore is very proud to be working with the Federal Government on this important national issue, that too, in the midst of this global crisis. We salute the brave healthcare professionals around the world who are serving on the frontlines and look forward to supporting them in this fight”.
