Pakistan’s healthcare system faces a deep paradox rooted in social and cultural realities. While women now form the majority of medical graduates often outnumbering men by up to 80% in medical colleges a shocking 35% of female doctors remain unemployed or inactive, according to Gallup Pakistan surveys.
Many drop out shortly after graduation due to marriage, family pressures, joint-family expectations, safety concerns, and limited mobility in rural or conservative areas.
This results in an estimated 85,000 trained female doctors sitting out of the workforce, even as the country grapples with a severe doctor shortage, rural-urban divides, and the emigration of nearly 4,000 doctors in 2025 alone. Millions of patients, especially in underserved and low-income communities, struggle to access timely care.
Enter Sehat Kahani — Pakistan’s pioneering telemedicine platform that is turning this crisis into an opportunity. Co-founded by Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga and Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram, Sehat Kahani uses digital technology to reconnect home-based female doctors with patients who need them most.
The Social and Cultural Challenge: Why So Many Female Doctors Are “Out of It”
In Pakistan’s deeply patriarchal and family-centric society, a woman’s role as daughter-in-law, wife, and mother often takes precedence over her professional career. Long hospital shifts, lack of safe transport, societal judgment, and pressure from in-laws make it extremely difficult for many female doctors to continue practicing after marriage.
The result is a massive waste of public investment in medical education and a widening gap in healthcare delivery particularly for women and children in rural areas who prefer female providers for cultural reasons.
Sehat Kahani directly addresses this challenge by enabling flexible, remote work from home, allowing thousands of skilled women doctors to re-enter the workforce without sacrificing family responsibilities.
How Sehat Kahani Is Changing the Game
Launched in 2017, Sehat Kahani has grown into a full-fledged digital health ecosystem offering:
- 24/7 instant consultations (chat, audio, video) via a user-friendly app
- 65+ nurse-assisted E-Health Clinics in low-income and rural communities
- Home lab tests, medicine delivery, mental health support, and corporate wellness programs
As of 2026, the platform boasts a network of over 7,500 healthcare professionals (with a strong majority of women), has delivered millions of consultations, and serves both individual patients and 110+ corporate clients across Pakistan.
Under Dr. Iffat Zafar’s leadership as Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer (COO), the company has scaled seven key verticals from the mobile app and E-clinics to B2B services and home healthcare.
Her operational expertise helped Sehat Kahani pivot during COVID-19, providing free consultations and upgrading ICUs into Tele-ICUs in partnership with the government and UNDP.
Dr. Iffat Zafar: The Physician-Turned-Entrepreneur Driving Impact
Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga, an MBBS graduate from Ziauddin Medical University and holder of an MSc in Global E-Health from the University of Edinburgh, brings deep clinical and operational insight.
As COO, she has been instrumental in building partnerships, expanding the clinic network, and ensuring the platform remains affordable and accessible.
Her work goes beyond technology it represents cultural transformation. By creating dignified, flexible jobs for female doctors, Sehat Kahani is challenging outdated norms and proving that Pakistani women can excel in both family and professional spheres.
Global Recognition: The 2026 Harvard Case Study
Sehat Kahani’s model has now earned international acclaim. In January 2026, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published the case study “Sehat Kahani: Digital Health Transformation in Pakistan.”
Authored by Bukhtawar Azhar, Che L. Reddy, and Professor Rifat Atun, the study highlights how Sehat Kahani is solving systemic healthcare challenges in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) through innovation, strategic pivots, and inclusive growth.
Dr. Iffat Zafar and her co-founder were prominently featured for their vision and execution. The case is now taught at Harvard as an example of scalable digital health solutions, marking a proud moment for Pakistan’s startup ecosystem.
Awards, Impact, and the Road Ahead
Dr. Iffat Zafar’s contributions have earned her prestigious honors, including:
- Study UK Business & Innovation Award 2024
- Global Heroines of Health Award 2022
Sehat Kahani has raised over $8 million in funding and continues to expand, with plans for deeper regional growth.
By reactivating female doctors and delivering millions of consultations, the platform is not only improving access to care but also creating economic opportunities and reducing the strain on Pakistan’s overburdened public health system.
Why This Matters for Pakistan’s Startup Ecosystem
Sehat Kahani proves that tech-driven solutions rooted in local social realities can deliver both profitability and meaningful impact.
In a country where cultural barriers keep thousands of skilled women out of the workforce, Dr. Iffat Zafar and her team are showing a smarter, more inclusive way forward.
Ready to experience the change? Download the Sehat Kahani app or visit their official website for quality healthcare in seconds.
FAQs
What problem does Sehat Kahani solve?
It tackles the high unemployment rate among female doctors while improving healthcare access for underserved communities through telemedicine.
Who is Dr. Iffat Zafar?
She is the Co-Founder and COO of Sehat Kahani, a physician and global e-health expert focused on empowering women in medicine.
What is the Harvard connection?
Sehat Kahani was featured in a 2026 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health case study on digital health innovation in Pakistan.
