Islamabad - Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) recommended to de-notify two private medical and dental colleges – Abbottabad International Medical College and Jinnah Medical College, Peshawar - on their failure to fulfil the criteria of the council while the scheme for the enrolled students’ adjustment will be framed later.
An official informed The Nation that the decision of closure of two medical colleges was taken in the 156th meeting of the council.
President PMDC Prof Dr. Shabir Lehri said that after considering the recommendations of inspectors, the council unanimously decided that both colleges shall be recommended for closure on immediate basis and federal government will be informed to de-notify them.
The council will forward its recommendations to the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), which has the authority of de-notifying the medical college.
The president said that the step is part of a crackdown on the private medical colleges providing sub-standard facilities and not following the criteria as recommended by the council.
He said that scheme of adjustment of students of these two medical colleges will be decided within a week by the committee constituted by the PM&DC.
The President PM&DC added that the comprehensive and surprise inspection reports of these colleges were placed before the council in which gross deficiencies were reported about Abbottabad International Medical College.
The affiliated teaching hospital was 48.6km away from the medical college. Which takes an hour to reach the affiliated hospital from the college, this was the major violation of the council rules and regulations.
President PM&DC said that the deficiencies were communicated to the college for rectification as pointed out by the inspection team, including own hospital. The executive committee granted six months’ time period to the college for rectification of deficiencies as per request of the college authorities but the college failed to rectify the deficiencies.
Similarly, Jinnah Medical College, Peshawar has been also recommended for closure due to not fulfilling the minimum criteria of PMDC.
He also apprised that the PMDC has reduced the seat allocation of Pak International Medical College, Peshawar after considering the recommendations of inspection reports. The council unanimously decided reduction of MBBS seats from 100 to 50 for session 2017-18.
Furthermore, college will be re-inspected after three months for rectification of deficiencies pointed out by the inspection team.
The official statement said that the action has been taken under the ordinance section 22 which describes that if a recognised institution is violating provisions of this ordinance and regulations made there under or the facilities for training for the courses of study or standard of examination in the institution to obtain a recognised medical or dental qualification, additional medical or dental qualification, training for house job or internship or foundation year or in the continuous professional development opportunity providing organisation has deteriorated to an extent that the standard of proficiency required from candidates at any examination held for the purpose of granting such qualification is not such as to secure to persons holding such qualification the knowledge and skill requisite for the efficient practice of medicine or dentistry, the council may stop further intake of students in the institution and forward and summary of its findings and its intent to the medical or dental institution may submit its explanation to the council and may request for a hearing before the council if it so desires.
The ordinance also explains that if the council is not satisfied with the explanation then it shall make recommendations to the federal government for closure of the institution to which shall include a scheme for adjustment of students in other recognised institution of the corresponding public or private sector, as the case may be.