Shortage of Female GI Specialists in Pakistan Puts Women’s Health at Risk

A severe shortage of trained female gastroenterologists in Pakistan is creating alarming delays in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) and liver diseases in women, experts warned during the second day of the 7th Annual Conference of the Pakistan GI and Liver Disease Society (PGLDS), held at Liaquat National Hospital in Karachi.

The issue is deeply rooted in cultural and social barriers, which make many women reluctant to consult male doctors for sensitive health concerns. As a result, serious illnesses like fatty liver, hepatitis C, and colorectal cancer often go undiagnosed until they reach an advanced and harder-to-treat stage.

Dr. Lubna Kamani, President of PGLDS, sounded the alarm on rising liver and gut health concerns across Pakistan, calling for urgent screening programs, particularly for women. “We are facing a tsunami of diseases. Hepatitis C and fatty liver are preventable, but people are unaware. We must prioritize testing and early detection,” she urged.

The absence of a national colorectal cancer screening program—especially for women—was highlighted repeatedly. Experts stressed that unless gender-sensitive health strategies are adopted, the healthcare system will struggle to manage the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

Dr. Nazish Butt emphasized that more young women are presenting with late-stage liver and GI cancers, driven by poor diets, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and delayed health-seeking due to social discomfort. “We need to shift the focus to early care and awareness,” she said.

Dr. Sajjad Jamil, Secretary General of PGLDS, held the current dietary culture responsible for the rising disease burden. “Our kids are growing up on sugar, junk food, and zero physical activity. We’re raising a generation vulnerable to lifelong illness,” he warned, calling for school-based health education and dietary reform.

International specialists like Prof Eun Young Kim from South Korea showcased successful health models based on screenings, diet awareness, and insurance-backed preventive care, stressing that “Pakistan must invest in prevention, not just treatment.”

A key voice, Dr. Wajiha Rizwan, President of the Medical Women Association of Pakistan, highlighted the urgent need to address the gender gap in healthcare delivery. “Most women do not feel safe or comfortable with male GI specialists. This cultural barrier results in suffering and late diagnosis,” she said, also pointing out that more than half of female medical graduates never enter the workforce, and those who do face unsafe workplaces and discrimination.

Sessions during the day also focused on therapies for fatty liver, colorectal cancer screening, innovations in endoscopy, and gut microbiome research—but the conversation kept circling back to one urgent need: more female specialists and a health system that listens to women.

As Pakistan faces rising rates of GI disorders, the PGLDS conference served as a critical platform for demanding reforms that prioritize preventive care, gender inclusion, and long-overdue public health policy changes.