Islamabad: In a move aimed at addressing mounting public complaints about doctors’ behaviour, medical and dental colleges in the federal capital will begin formal teaching of empathy, ethics and communication skills as part of core medical education from the current academic year.
Senior officials at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University said the initiative was designed to improve how future doctors interact with patients and their families, particularly in a healthcare system where mistrust and confrontation have become increasingly common.
Vice Chancellor Prof Tanvir Khaliq said the university had finalised a structured six-week module that would be implemented across all public and private medical and dental colleges affiliated with the university in Islamabad.
While personal values are largely shaped at home, he said, professional behaviour in medicine requires formal training. Doctors deal with people at their most vulnerable, and poor communication or a dismissive attitude can deepen fear, confusion and anger among patients and attendants.
Public dissatisfaction with healthcare providers has been rising across Pakistan, with patients frequently complaining of harsh language, lack of explanation about diagnoses or treatment plans, and behaviour perceived as indifferent or unethical. Health experts say these gaps have fuelled mistrust, hospital disputes and even incidents of violence against medical staff.
According to Prof Khaliq, the new teaching module will not be treated as a one-off course but as a continuing component of medical education, aimed at shaping attitudes over time rather than delivering a single lecture on ethics.
He said most patients in Pakistan come from backgrounds where medical terminology is difficult to understand, and what they need most is reassurance, clarity and respect. When doctors fail to explain procedures or outcomes in simple language, misunderstandings multiply and confidence in the health system erodes.
Alongside the curriculum reform, the vice chancellor shared updates on the university’s academic and research expansion. Established in 2014, SZAMBU now has more than 10,000 students enrolled in around 60 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, relying largely on self-generated resources with limited funding from the Higher Education Commission.
He said the university had set up a molecular genetics and next generation sequencing laboratory to support research into inherited and genetic disorders, though the absence of some advanced equipment continued to restrict research capacity. With medicine increasingly moving towards genetic-based diagnosis and targeted therapies, especially in cancer care, he stressed the need for greater investment in laboratory infrastructure.
Prof Khaliq said the university was expected to shift to its new purpose-built campus by the end of June, adding that the first syndicate meeting would be held in the new facility once construction was completed.
He also said SZAMBU had submitted a summary to the HEC seeking approval for 15 PhD programmes to strengthen doctoral training and research in priority health fields.
In addition, the university plans to initiate training in robotic surgery as robotic systems are being installed at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, while continuing to expand Basic Life Support training for both healthcare workers and members of the public, underscoring the importance of timely first response in saving lives.