A Conversation with Dr. Ali Hussain Rajput Dr Rajput, a source of inspiration for all Pakistanis. and a source of shame for the health ministry official who told Dr Rajput,``He`s not needed at home``.

It is unfortunate how somethings never change, especially back at home.

Pakistan has one of the worlds worst ratio of Neurologists to patient population. In US it`s 1 neurologist per 15,000 population where as for Pakistan it`s 1 neurologist per 12 to 15 million. Severe deficieny of trained Neurologists.As bad as it can get. One can literraly count on fingers ,that too of one hand.

Although I am relatively fresh in the field of Neurology having just finished fellowship in Stroke and have a long way to go. Let me share with you my experience.

Soon after I completed my residency training in Neurology, I approached Pakistan, Ministry of Health, for any vacancies in Federal or Provincial academic medical centers, I knew that these jobs pay almost nothing, but my interest was nonmaterialistic, to return home and serve and to do some basic clinical research .

I got the reply after 3 months on a small 5`` X 7`` piece of paper enclosed in a tattered envelope.

I quote:

``No vacancies currently exist for Neurology, please refer to Pakistani newspapers for any postings regarding job openings`` : unquote

I am pretty sure that, the then health minister had no idea what a Neurologist is and maybe no idea about his job either.

It`s a sad state of affairs back at home, too sad.

Faizan Hafeez