The racism I experience as a doctor puts the NHS to shame

We must make a much greater effort to address discrimination in the medical profession, writes Dr Seema Haider. Prejudice against minority ethnic physicians should be called out in all its forms

As the daughter of two first-generation Pakistani immigrant GPs, I am no stranger to racism (PA Wire)

I find it hard to see myself as a victim of any kind, as I am acutely aware of the privilege I hold in comparison to vast swathes of the world’s population.

Nevertheless, research shows that as a minority ethnic doctor, I am more likely to face discrimination, the scale and complexity of which we are only just beginning to comprehend. Not only do we have a higher chance of being reported to the General Medical Council, but people like me are underrepresented in leadership positions, have poorer career-related outcomes, and experience more psychological distress.

I haven’t even told you that I am a woman yet, so we will need to factor sexism, including unequal pay, into this toxic mess. Things are not looking good for me, and sadly it appears that the odds have always been stacked against me.