What happens when a deaf patient walks into a hospital in Pakistan?
Imagine walking into a government hospital with a fever, chest pain, or a child who won’t stop crying, and having no way to tell the doctor what is wrong. There is no interpreter. The staff don’t sign. You write on a scrap of paper if you can, you point, and you hope. Then you leave with a prescription you may not fully understand, for a diagnosis nobody properly explained. For many deaf and…
Walking into a government hospital with a fever, chest pain or a crying child, and being unable to communicate the problem is a reality for many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Pakistan. There are no interpreters and staff typically do not sign. The patient may attempt to convey their issue through writing or pointing, hoping for a resolution.
This is not just a hypothetical scenario but a common experience for numerous deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the country. The Sir Syed Deaf Association (SDA) has been working on these issues for the last few years, but a recent incident in Karachi vividly demonstrated the ongoing challenges. During a workshop, a young deaf woman attempted to communicate with the reporter, but the reporter struggled to understand her.
This incident highlighted the urgent need for better implementation of existing disability laws. Pakistan does have disability laws in place, including the Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2018, which recognizes the right to accessible healthcare. The country has also ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
However, laws on paper are not enough if they do not reach the examination rooms, hospitals and government offices. The reporter filed a petition before the High Court of Sindh, asking for the implementation of these protections in public healthcare facilities across the province, including sign-language interpreters and other accommodations for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients.
The petition seeks to ensure that a deaf patient can walk into a government hospital, explain their issue, and understand the treatment they receive. While legal protection is important, it is not enough without proper implementation. The reporter also emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for deaf individuals beyond legal protection.
After the petition, the reporter worked with SDA to establish partnerships with the Punjab Skills Development Fund, ConnectHear, and the Network of Organizations Working with Persons with Disabilities. These organizations aim to provide accessible vocational training, employment readiness, and job connections for deaf individuals.
However, the reporter noted that these efforts are still in the early stages and that significant changes are needed. Deafness in Pakistan is often treated as a charity issue rather than a matter of rights and access. Hospitals, employers, and government offices need to view sign language as basic infrastructure, as essential as ramps or signboards.
The reporter understands that there are no easy answers and that they are still learning sign language. But they believe that change can start by noticing who is not being heard and taking action.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
