‘Women suffering in silence due to shortage of female gastroenterologists in Pakistan’

A severe shortage of trained and qualified female gastroenterologists in Pakistan is contributing to delayed diagnoses and poor health outcomes for women suffering from gastrointestinal and liver diseases, as many are reluctant to consult male doctors due to cultural and social barriers.

This concern was raised on the second day of the 7th Annual Conference of the Pakistan GI and Liver Disease Society (PGLDS) where experts lamented that women across rural and urban areas were silently enduring serious health issues that were often diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

They called for a national colorectal cancer screening program, especially for women, who due to the sensitivities involved and lack of female doctors, frequently presented in advanced stages when treatment became more difficult.

Speaking at the conference, which was held at the Liaquat National Hospital’s convention center in Karachi, local and international specialists called for urgent public health reforms, including screening programmes, dietary awareness and structural changes in homes and schools to prevent a looming health crisis.

Dr Lubna Kamani, president of the PGLDS, reiterated the call for early detection and lifestyle change. “We are facing a tsunami of fatty liver, hepatitis C and colorectal cancer. It’s time people took screening seriously. Medicines for Hepatitis B and C are available in Pakistan, but most people do not know they are infected. We urge everyone to get tested and follow medical advice,” she said.

Without national programmes for screening and chronic illness prevention, she warned, the health system will collapse under the weight of non-communicable diseases. Dr Nazish Butt, senior member of the PGLDS, emphasised the rising burden of obesity and gut health issues in women. She noted that poor diets, sedentary routines and hormonal factors were making women more vulnerable to gastrointestinal and liver disorders.

“We are seeing more young women with advanced liver disease and GI cancers because they delay seeking help,” she said, stressing the need for gender-sensitive health care and targeted awareness.

Dr Sajjad Jamil, secretary general of the PGLDS, blamed obesity as the ‘mother of all illnesses’ and criticised the country's deteriorating dietary culture. “Children start consuming sugary drinks, processed meat and junk food from an early age. There’s no physical activity in schools, no playgrounds, and too much screen time. We are nurturing disease,” he warned, adding that Pakistan could not afford to treat millions of people when mostly earned less than 500 to 600 rupees a day.

He demanded immediate implementation of a national colorectal cancer screening programme and school-based awareness campaigns promoting healthy eating and exercise.

International experts highlighted the importance of preventive approaches. South Korean expert Prof Eun Young Kim shared how her country controlled liver and GI diseases through regular screenings, national health insurance, and diet and activity awareness.

“What we see here is preventable. Governments must invest in health promotion, not just treatment,” she remarked. Dr Shahid Ahmed, patron of the PGLDS, said the conference aimed to equip local healthcare professionals with updated knowledge and treatment options. “We’ve invited experts from South Korea, Turkey, South Africa and beyond to present and train our young doctors on how the world is addressing these diseases,” he said.

Dr Wajiha Rizwan, president of the Medical Women Association of Pakistan, raised a key concern about the lack of female gastroenterologists, which is delaying diagnoses in women, especially in conservative communities.

“Many women are uncomfortable being examined by male doctors and suffer in silence. This leads to late-stage diagnosis of GI diseases,” she said. She also noted that over half of newly graduated female doctors did not enter the profession, and those who did, faced unsafe environments and discrimination.

The second day of the PGLDS conference continued with sessions on colorectal screening, therapies for fatty liver, endoscopic innovations and gut microbiome research.