PMDC approves student recruitment by Unrecognized Colleges

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has allowed admissions to three unrecognized Medical Institutes. This action by the PMDC, being labeled illegal and unethical, is likely to cause a lot of uproar in the medical sector. This step of PMDC is being considered as illegal and besides this decision has made the future of more than 250 students uncertain.

PMDC has allowed three medical colleges in Punjab to admit students without their notification of registration by the Federal Government. The action is seen as a violation of PMDC Ordinance 1962. Faryal Dental College Sheikupura, Rahbar Medical College Lahore and Rai Medical College Sargodha earlier started admitting students, and classes began in Feb earlier this year. Reports are that more than 250 students have been admitted to the three institutes named.

The Executive Committee meeting was held in December 2013 and it was decided to facilitate a “special relaxation” to allow intake of medical students by the colleges who have not obtained recognition letter by the ministry of national health services regulation and coordination. The PMDC and the ministry are currently debating the legal status of the council and the ministry claims that the current set-up of PMDC has no legal status without any official notification in the gazette of Pakistan.

The ongoing crisis is likely to deteriorate the quality of medical education in Pakistan, a country that has been famous for producing high quality doctors in the past. It has also been learnt that powerful lobbies are taking full advantage of this situation by minting huge amounts of money from the situation. Mr. Rai Aslam,  chief executive Rai Medical College confirmed that his college has been permitted by PMDC to hold medical classes without ministry’s recognition.

The YDA has asked the ministry to lodge cases against Registrar and other officials of PMDC under sections 22A, 22B and 28B of the PMDC Ordinance 1962 as amended by the PMDC (amendment) Act 2012.