Suicide amid Corruption”

Prof. Abdul Shakoor Shah
Famous British politician Michael Heseltine has rightly said, “Bribery and corruption are like a cancer that eats away at the heart of democracy, reducing it to a hollow shell.” On 14th March, a deplorable incident became the headlines on Pakistan media. A senior medical Doctor attempted suicide consuming dozens of sleeping pills after he was allegedly asked to pay money for his transfer. Just before the attempt, he shared a detailed note and unveiled the involved people who made him attempt the suicide.After the letter was shared widely on Social media, inevitably Health department ordered to constitute a committee to probe the matter and suspended one of three notable persons mentioned in the suicide note. Provincial Health Secretary Zulfiqar Shah has also assured to take action against the those who are involved in this illegal activity. A country which is likely heading towards debt default, a senior medical officer who hasn’t got his own house and hardly manages monthly expenses from his salary is made to attempt suicide for taking huge amount of bribe just for a transfer, one can imagine how difficult a life will be for a common man living in the same society where the inflation rate has jumped above 40%. A country who has been included among the list of top ten countries that have significantly declined in the Corruption Perception Index for 2022 and slipped to reach 140 from 117 out of 180 countries getting the worst score in a decade. Corruption is not only matter of health department but it lies in every department of Pakistan. If a government employee visits a district treasury office for any minor work, he won’t make it untill he keeps an envelope under the table. The act of suicide due to corruption and bribe may trigger the issue and may lead to perilous consequences by taking several lives if not tackled urgently with transparent and neutral investigation and imposing strict policy. Corruption and bribery are serious issues that can have a significant impact on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. The Sindh Government should take immediate action to investigate this matter thoroughly and hold those responsible for the doctor’s suicide attempt accountable for their actions. This includes identifying and punishing any officials who engaged in corrupt practices, as well as implementing measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. In addition to taking corrective actions, the government should also take a proactive approach to addressing corruption and bribery in public sector. This could involve implementing stronger regulations and oversight mechanisms, providing more training and support for healthcare professionals, and increasing transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources and funding. Ultimately, it is essential that the Sindh Government takes a firm stance against corruption and bribery, both within the healthcare sector and throughout society, in order to ensure that individuals and institutions are held accountable for their actions and that the rights and well-being of all citizens are protected.