A social media post featuring an MBBS graduate has been gaining viral attention. The graduate shared the disappointing news that despite being honored with 29 gold medals for academic excellence in various subjects, they have been unable to secure a job in a hospital.
Dr. Hafiz Waleed Malik, who completed his MBBS degree last year, believes that hospital job opportunities are not awarded based on merit but rather due to the prevalent “sifarish culture,” referring to the practice of nepotism or favoritism. In response to a question on Instagram, Dr. Malik expressed his frustration, stating that he had applied to multiple hospitals without success. He also highlighted that the job situation heavily relies on personal connections rather than merit.
The screenshot of his Instagram story quickly went viral, drawing significant attention. Speaking to BBC, Dr. Malik explained that after completing his MBBS from Amiruddin Medical College in Lahore and finishing his house job at Lahore General Hospital, he began applying to private hospitals while waiting for government hospital recruitment to commence.
Regarding the culture of recommendations hindering job opportunities in the medical field in Pakistan, Dr. Malik noted that job positions are often not vacant in private hospitals. When they are available, medical graduates are often hired based on recommendations from professors.
Dr. Malik acknowledged the reality of the “sifarish culture” in the country, affecting both regular students and academic toppers. He emphasized that his intention was not to go viral on social media but to shed light on the prevailing situation.
Dr. Malik expressed his belief that fairness should prevail in both public and private institutions, calling for a more neutral and merit-based approach to job placements.
