JSMU awaits permission from PMDC

Karachi: There is no positive response so far to the  request sent to Pakistan Medical & Dental Council for opening of Sindh Institute of Oral Health Dental College few months ago, this was stated by the Vice Chancellor, Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), Prof SM Tariq Rafi.

He said PMDC has recently granted permission for opening of new medical college in Khairpur in Sindh province.  He said JSMU administration has sent formal request to PMDC for opening of new medical college Sindh Institute of Oral Health institution in the premises of Dr Ishrat-ul Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences as institute handed has been over to Dow University of Health Sciences.

He said PMDC management has not responded to JSMU administration despite the passage of over three months. He said administration will start class within three month once permission granted. He said PMDC must allow opening of new medical college in public sector to fill the shortage of doctors in the country.

President Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) Prof Dr Masood Hameed Khan was not available for comment.

It was pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is facing acute shortage of dentists as only 16,000 dentists are registered in the country which is not enough to cater to the whole population, while keeping in mind that a good number of doctors leave the country every year.  

In 2014, on one hand Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had extended moratorium on opening of new medical and dental colleges for further two year due to shortage of faculty and academicians as existing colleges already facing teacher shortage and on the other hand they have issued notification to increase the BDS to 5 years instead of 4, which is a paradox in itself.