Zainab Majid  ( Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan )
Sarrah Ali Asghar  ( Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan )
Fauzia Imtiaz  ( Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan )

Madam, we read the article "Multiple Dimensions of Violence Against Healthcare Providers in Karachi: Results from A Multi-Centre Study from Karachi" by Baig et al (Vol. 68, No. 8, August 2018). This article has drawn a spotlight on the neglected and unpublicized issue. Health care workers are sixteen times more prone to incidents of violence. ¹ A recent study among healthcare  providers in Karachi showed a staggering 65.6% participants as victims of abuse. Data from previous studies asserted that females are less likely target of physical violence. ² However, female physicians were found to have a reduced sense of safety while on call. ³ Regardless, two recent incidents in Ruth Pfau Hospital Karachi may possibly support the idea of female healthcare workers not being immune from physical violence. In the month of June 2018, attendants of a patient, who had sadly passed away, upon hearing the news, broke into the female resident's room to not only verbally assault but also physically torture a pregnant female oncall doctor in medicine ward. ⁴ A few days following this condemnable act, a similar occurrence at a surgical ward was highlighted by media in which a lady doctor was put under torment by another patient's attendant who had a fatal Myocardial Infarction. ⁵ Psychological and physical abuse of doctors results in occupation burden, decreased job contentment and poor patient care outcomes.¹ Hence, a single act of violence negatively impacts the entire health care system. Effective measures to reduce the overcrowding of attendants and to minimize the waiting time is crucial to avoid these dreadful situations. Hospital management must hireadequate staff to nullify the chances of a medical mistake or a similar negligence. Also, a healthy working atmosphere should be provided in hospitals with a well organized security system. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics should be thoroughly guided through workshops or routine training sessions to deal with such mishaps and be encouraged to report incidents without fear.         

Disclaimer: The manuscript has not been previously presented or published in a conference, and has not been a part of a research, PhD or thesis project.
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
Funding Disclosure:None to declare.

References

1. Li P1, Xing K1, Qiao H2, Fang H1, Ma H3, Jiao M, et al. Psychological violence against general practitioners and nurses in Chinese township hospitals: incidence and implications. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2018; 16: 117.
2. Baig LA, Shaikh S, Polkowski M, Ali SK, Jamali S, Mazharullah L, et al. Violence against health care providers: a mixed-methods study from Karachi, Pakistan. J Emerg Med. 2018; 54: 558-66.
3. Ahmed F, KhizarMemon M2, Memon S. Violence against doctors, a serious concern for healthcare organizations to ponder about. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2017; 25: 3-5.
4. PPI. Inexcusable behavior: YDA condemns beating up of female doctors at Civil hospital. The Express Tribune. [Online][Cited
2018 June 12]. Available from URL: https://tribune.com.pk/  story/1732995/1-inexcusable-behaviour-yda-condemns-beatingfemale- doctorscivil-hospital/
5. Shaikh Z. Doctors Protest Against Violence At Civil Hospital. [Online] [Cited 2018 June 26]. Available from URL: https://nationalcourier.pk/metropolis/doctors-protest-againstviolence- at-civil-hospital/