FCPS General Surgeon from Pakistan Trying to Decide Between Gulf, UK, Ireland, Canada (and Pakistan)
I’m a FCPS-trained general surgeon with a few years of post-fellowship experience. Married, 2 kids. Lately I’ve been feeling very stuck professionally and personally, and I wanted honest advice from people who’ve actually gone through similar decisions.
I keep going back and forth between:
- staying in Pakistan and trying to build private practice long-term
- going to the Gulf
- attempting a pathway like UK/Ireland/Canada despite the difficulty and uncertainty
The Gulf used to be attractive financially, but now they seem to have decided to stop being so generous. Also, according to my understanding, Pakistani doctors are often looked down upon there compared to goras or foreign-trained doctors - I’ve heard they are paid significantly more for similar work and are treated with more respect automatically. Maybe not everywhere, but enough that it worries me about long-term dignity and career satisfaction.
At the same time, I’m not unrealistic about countries like Canada. I know this is not a movie where you land there next week and immediately start practicing as a surgeon. I understand the licensing process can take years, involves an array of exams/evaluations, uncertainty, observerships/research, repeating training, survival jobs, financial strain, etc. That’s exactly what makes this decision difficult when you have a wife and children depending on you.
I feel caught between financial stability, professional respect, quality of life, children’s future, and the reality of age/time/risk.
Some days I think staying in Pakistan and focusing fully on private practice is the smartest move, considering social and financial factors. Other days I feel like I may regret never trying to leave while I still can.
I’d really appreciate honest advice from doctors, especially Pakistani doctors who migrated after FCPS or chose not to.
If you were in my position
- What path would you choose?
- Is the Gulf worth it long term?
- Is Canada/UK realistically possible with a family at this stage?
- If you stayed in Pakistan, do you regret it?
Not looking for motivational (or demotivational) one-liners. Just real experiences and realistic perspectives.