An initiative aimed at addressing burnout among healthcare professionals in Pakistan has been announced, with organisers positioning it as a platform to develop practical solutions for one of the sector’s growing challenges. The Anti Burnout Hackathon 2026, organised by Rufayda – Care for Healthcare, will bring together medical and allied participants to design ideas focused on improving workplace environments within the healthcare system. The event highlights increasing concern around workforce wellbeing, which has implications for patient safety, staff retention, and overall system performance.
The programme will include a preliminary online workshop scheduled for April 4 at 6 pm, followed by the main in person hackathon on April 11 at Habitt City in Karachi. Participants will compete in teams of five to seven members, with multidisciplinary collaboration encouraged across fields such as medicine, nursing, psychology, and related disciplines. According to organisers, the initiative is open to students, house officers, residents, clinicians, and other professionals who are directly or indirectly involved in healthcare delivery. The event is designed to promote collaborative problem solving through structured challenges focused on real world workplace issues.
The hackathon will feature a total prize pool of Rs 220,000, with awards distributed among the top three teams. A panel of judges comprising local and international experts from healthcare and innovation sectors will evaluate submissions based on feasibility, impact, and innovation. The judging panel includes Dr Mairaj Shah, Jehan Ara, Dr Mahreen Sulaiman, Dr Mustaqeem Ahmad Siddiqui, and Dr Ryan McCarthy, reflecting a mix of clinical and industry perspectives.
Organisers have described the initiative as the first hackathon of its kind in Pakistan focused specifically on healthcare burnout, an issue that has gained attention globally due to increasing workloads and stress levels among medical professionals. With a registration deadline set for April 2, interested participants can review further details at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bm9azonkQN-GdSX2gVNbJ7o-unethC2B/view and submit their applications through the official registration form at https://forms.gle/QuA2JAkUFW68BFe77. The event aims to attract participants who can contribute innovative ideas to improve working conditions and support systems within healthcare institutions, while encouraging collaborative solutions for long term sectoral challenges.
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