Medical Social Work in Pakistan: Issues and Challenges for Professional Practice

Abstract

This study investigates the job profile, training facilities and work facilities of medical social workers in Pakistan. For this purpose, the data of 108 medical social workers is used in a study. The results show that most of the medical social services units have been set up in government hospitals. Similarly, the majority of medical social officers has full-time employment and is content with their level of job security and their job work was supervised by both the administrative department and hospital administration. Regarding the training facilities, when medical social workers were asked whether hospital administration offered them any specific training after appointment most of the respondents stated that they did not receive any training after appointment however, most of the respondents attained training during the job. The analysis shows that the majority of respondents have facilities of independent room, computer and peon/attendant, whereas, majority of the respondents did not have facilities of telephone, canteen and transport. The results of the research indicate that the administration of the hospital does not play an encouraging role in providing infrastructure to the MSSUs. Therefore, it is suggested that training and work facilities should be improved for the medical social workers so they can work effectively to improve the welfare of the patients in the hospitals.