ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has officially begun the application process for World Federation for Medical Education accreditation (WFME).

The entire evaluation procedure, which includes a physical visit by the WFME and an inspection, is expected to be completed within 12 to 15 months. 

In order for Pakistani doctors and students to be allowed to study or practice overseas, notably in the United States, WFME recognition will be required. 

Pakistani medical students and doctors will require WFME to study and practice in the United States (USA) 

According to a press release, the WFME accreditation is crucial for Pakistan to ensure that Pakistani doctors may learn and practice abroad.

Prior to the actual evaluation and inspection process of WFME, the PMC will work closely with the WFME and other international organizations to guarantee that all recognition standards are satisfied.

Over the next four months, the PMC has scheduled comprehensive workshops and seminars for all medical colleges in Pakistan to assist with capacity-building and prepare all medical colleges for the WFME visit and inspections. 

Comprehensive data and information submissions are produced and analyzed in accordance with the WFME process steps, leading to a final physical inspection and evaluation of the PMC and chosen medical colleges.

The PMC invested over 18 months in preparing and completing the WFME process. The formal application to WFME to initiate the process obligated the prior approval of the new 2022 National Standards for Recognition of Medical and Dental Colleges and Teaching Hospitals as well as the 2022 National Medical and Dental Curricula, which were recently approved and notified after the National Medical & Dental Academic Board spent 15 months and hundreds of hours formulating and structuring them.

The standards and curriculum form the framework for current medical and dental education systems. The board will continue to raise the quality bar for both institutions and students by continually improving the standards and curriculum.