Closure of understaffed D.G. Khan Medical College

By Our Staff Reporter

DERA GHAZI KHAN- Following the decision of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to stop Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College from offering new admission, the students expressed grave concern over the decision taken due to short number of the faculty members at the college. 

The PMDC had written a letter addressed to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination recommending the closure of four colleges, namely; Pak Red Crescent Medical and Dental College, Lahore; Hashmat Medical and Dental College, Gujrat; Al-Razi Medical College, Peshawar; and Sahiwal Medical College for constantly violating rules and regulations. 

Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College and the Department of Dentistry, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, are functioning without recognition. Thus, 17 public and private sector medical colleges across the country including Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College have been stopped from offering new admissions for the 2015-16 sessions for which admission are to be started in August-September, 2015.

Talking to the media, the former minister for state Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood said that; Delay in the recognition of the college by PMDC had proved the negligence and poor governance of the Punjab government. It should address the issue on priority basis and end the confusion as uncertain position has risen in the mind of the students, he demanded. Ban on admissions by the PMDC would be discrimination with the backward areas of South Punjab, he said.

The future of almost 500 students is at stake due to the negligence of MNA Hafiz Abdul Kareem and MPA Syed Abdul Aleem Shah, said PTI Women Wing Vice President Zartaj Gull. She maintained it was bad luck of the citizens that the lawmakers always remained busy in saving their vested interests and never took interest in nor raised voice for posting of faculty in DG Khan Medical College.

Now, the PMDC has stopped the college from enrolling new students for the 2015-16 session for being critically deficient in faculty members.

Jamaat-e-Islami Deputy Secretary General Punjab Sheik Usman Farooq said that it was bad news for students, parents as well as the citizens. Jamaat-e-Islami condemns the decision of PMDC because it would deprive about 100 new students of getting education in the college, he said. The Health Department should appoint the faculty immediately so that the PMDC could recognize the college before the start of the new session.

The college students expressed their grievances over the PMDC decision. They said that appointment of the required number of faculty members is the responsibility of government so the student should not be punished for it.

The students criticized that the final-year of their first batch is about to complete in the ‘de-recognised’ institute with a tag of “unregistered” graduates.

When approached, Principal Dr Shamim Hasan said that the recent decision by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) is very hard for the college as well as the students. However, the Health Department has considered it very seriously, he said and hoped that faculty of the college would be completed soon with new appointments.