SOGP Calls for Urgent Measures to Stop Violence Against Female Healthcare Workers

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Pakistan (SOGP) has raised alarm over a sharp increase in violence against female healthcare workers, urging immediate government action to address what it calls a growing human rights and public health crisis. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi on 12 July 2025, SOGP leaders linked gender-based violence (GBV) to rising maternal mortality and morbidity, highlighting systemic neglect and inadequate protections for frontline workers.

SOGP President Dr Rubina Suhail and Secretary-General Dr Shabeen Naz Masood cited alarming statistics from a 2024 report by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), which documented 32,617 cases of GBV across Pakistan. These included 5,339 rapes, 24,439 cases of kidnapping or abduction, 2,238 incidents of domestic violence, and 547 honour killings. Punjab accounted for the highest number of cases at 26,753, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (3,397), Sindh (1,781), and Balochistan (398). The report, compiled using Right to Information (RTI) requests, also revealed 5,398 cases of child sexual abuse reported between 2019 and 2023.

“This violence directly undermines maternal health outcomes,” said Dr Suhail, pointing to a troubling lack of convictions, particularly in provinces like Balochistan, where legal and institutional protections for women are especially weak. According to the SSDO report, conviction rates for GBV remain below 1% in some categories, raising serious concerns about access to justice.

The SOGP noted that female healthcare professionals, especially lady doctors and midwives are often targeted in hospitals and clinics, where poor security infrastructure and entrenched social attitudes contribute to their vulnerability. Dr Masood called for the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems in all healthcare facilities, as well as the establishment of crisis centres and legal aid mechanisms to support victims of workplace violence. “Survivors need not only protection but also safe spaces and psychosocial support,” she said.

The issue is not unique to Pakistan. In neighbouring India, the murder of a female doctor in Kolkata in 2024 sparked protests and prompted The Lancet to highlight the global nature of violence against female healthcare workers. The World Health Organization (WHO) has since recommended that countries adopt comprehensive legal frameworks, institutional training, and enforcement protocols to safeguard women in healthcare settings.

While the SOGP’s appeal has received widespread support from civil society, the lack of federal coordination on gender-responsive healthcare policies continues to draw criticism. Experts argue that both provincial and national governments must move beyond statements and implement robust accountability systems. According to the Sindh Prisons and Corrections Service, Karachi alone housed 338 juvenile inmates in 2023, further complicating access to justice for minors and vulnerable women.

Without urgent reforms, the safety of female healthcare workers, and the wellbeing of the patients they serve remains in jeopardy. The SOGP’s call for justice, institutional reform, and comprehensive security measures reflects a broader plea for the protection of women’s rights in Pakistan’s healthcare system.