Pakistan’s medical professionals are voicing serious concerns over the Federal Board of Revenue’s proposal to hire 2,000 private auditors, warning that the move could severely disrupt private healthcare services nationwide. The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has rejected the plan outright, calling it an unnecessary and aggressive step against doctors and clinics.
During a press briefing at the PMA House, senior members of the association criticized the decision, arguing that healthcare providers are being treated like commercial enterprises rather than essential service providers. The PMA demanded that medical practices be placed in a separate tax category and urged the government to immediately cancel the plan to involve private auditing firms.
Doubts Over Outsourcing Tax Enforcement
PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro questioned the logic behind outsourcing key tax functions to private individuals. He suggested that the move either reflects a lack of confidence in the FBR’s own officers or serves as a way to reward selected consultants with high-paying assignments.
He further argued that if private auditors are being considered more capable than existing tax officials, the government should first reform the FBR itself instead of placing additional pressure on doctors who are already operating under difficult conditions.
Privacy, Ethics, and Professional Concerns
One of the PMA’s central objections relates to patient confidentiality. The association warned that granting private auditors access to clinic records could violate privacy laws and ethical standards. Doctors stressed that trust between patients and healthcare providers must not be compromised in the name of revenue collection.
The PMA also called on the government to adopt policies that encourage doctors to remain in Pakistan. Proposed measures included tax relief and incentive programs to support medical professionals working in rural and underserved areas.
Rising Migration of Doctors
Highlighting the growing migration of healthcare professionals, the PMA noted that more than a thousand Pakistani doctors secured residency positions in the United States in early 2025—a record figure. According to the association, this trend is being driven by an increasingly unfriendly professional environment at home.
Dr Shoro also pointed out that many private doctors offer free or low-cost treatment to patients, especially those who cannot afford care. He argued that automated tax assessments fail to account for these realities, even as doctors continue to absorb rising costs of imported medicines and medical equipment amid persistent inflation.
Demand for Fairness and Transparency
Beyond opposing the private auditor plan, the PMA called for greater transparency and accountability within the tax system itself. The association questioned why professionals providing essential services are subjected to intense scrutiny while concerns about inefficiency and privilege within tax institutions remain unaddressed.
The PMA concluded with a firm warning: if doctors continue to face what they describe as harassment through private auditors, the association may call for a nationwide shutdown of private healthcare services. The leadership emphasized that the issue is no longer about concessions, but about dignity, fairness, and respect for the medical profession.