DefinePK

Abstract

Imagine walking into a hospital and feeling truly understood—your language, your culture, and even your fears acknowledged. This is the power of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive healthcare workforce, especially for cardiac patients who often face critical, life-altering challenges. In Sindh, where public and private healthcare systems serve vastly different populations, the story of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) unfolds with contrasting dynamics.
This research dives deep into how the composition of healthcare teams—defined by gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic diversity—shapes the experiences and outcomes of cardiac patients. Public hospitals, often stretched thin in resources, struggle with representation and inclusivity, leading to communication gaps and diminished trust, particularly for marginalized communities. On the flip side, private hospitals demonstrate better DEI practices but face their own hurdles in fully embedding equitable policies across all levels.
Through heartfelt interviews with patients and healthcare providers, combined with rigorous data analysis, this study paints a vivid picture of the transformative role of DEI in healthcare. Hospitals that embrace workforce diversity don’t just check a box—they create environments where patients feel valued and cared for, leading to better health outcomes and heightened satisfaction.
This isn’t just a conversation about hospitals; it’s about reshaping community health, addressing inequality, and building trust in care systems. The findings serve as a call to action for public and private institutions to prioritize DEI—not just as a principle of fairness, but as an essential ingredient for better cardiac care. This work is a step toward not only improving lives but also bridging societal divides, reminding us that inclusive healthcare is a cornerstone of a just and thriving society. This comparative study includes six public and private hospitals: two public, two semi-government, and two private institutions. The results reveal negative outcomes for public hospitals, mixed outcomes for semi-government hospitals, and positive outcomes for private hospitals.