PMC's Legitimacy, Health Policy On PMA's Agenda

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) recently held its Central Council Meeting at the PMA House Karachi. The meeting was presided over by Dr S.Tipu Sultan, Ex-President of the PMA (Central). Central Councilors from all over Pakistan attended the meeting.

The participants of the meeting had a discussion in detail over the following issues.

Affairs of Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC):  

The Central Councilors discussed the affairs regarding the PMC, the MDCAT and the NLE. The Central Councilors maintained that they never accepted the creation of PMC from day one. The meeting rejected PMC as its main stand over the dissolution of PMDC.

The Council clearly stated that PMA is never against any exam. Instead, we have always demanded to follow merit. PMA wants improvement of standards of medical education in Pakistan for producing competent doctors. But the way MDCAT was conducted is wrong. PMA believes that before implementing NLE, it should be discussed with medical educationists, stakeholders and representatives of PMA.

PMA believes that such noxious decisions will be harmful both for the medical profession and medical education.

The Council expressed its concerns over the current situation in the country due to mismanagement in MDCAT Exam. It was conducted in such a baffling way that students all over Pakistan were on roads against it. They were protesting against the flaws it had due to which all the stakeholders questioned its transparency. PMA believes that students were rightly demanding to cancel the MDCAT due to its alleged technical flaws

It was another blunder that PMC introduced the online examination system without doing a pilot project and taking stakeholders on board. In the past, tests were held on answer sheets and just after the exam, carbon copy was provided to students. Later, a key was uploaded on the website, due to which candidates never argued over exam results.

35th CMAAO General Assembly and 56th Council Meeting (2021, Taipei): 

Pakistan Medical Association is an active member of Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia & Oceania (CMAAO). The Leadership of PMA fervently participated in the 35th General Assembly and 56th Council Meeting, held online from 2-3 September 2021. It is a great honour for Pakistan Medical Association to decide the venue and dates for the 2022 General Assembly and Council Meeting in Karachi, Pakistan, from 23rd to 25th September 2022.

Another Pride for PMA is that the 35th CMAAO General Assembly has appointed Dr Qazi Muhammad Wasiq, Treasurer PMA Centre, as President-Elect of CMAAO. Dr Qazi will be installed as 39th President of CMAAO for2022-2023 at the Ceremonial Session of the 36th CMAAO General Assembly in Karachi, 2022.

We also feel pleasure to inform you that Dr Shahid Shaukat Malik, General Secretary of the PMA Lahore, has been appointed as Councilor of CMAAO.

218th Council Session and General Assembly of WMA: 

The PMA is also an active member of the World Medical Association (WMA), and PMA Leadership keenly participated in their online 218th Council Session and General Assembly from 7-15 October 2021. PMA participated in both the meetings and scientific sessions.

They also took part in the elections of WMA. Dr Ashraf Nizami, President PMA Lahore, was our candidate for the post of President-Elect. The election was contested between Dr Ashraf Nizami from PMA and. Dr Osahon Enabulele from Nigeria. Dr Enabulele succeeded, but PMA STILL got a good number of votes. The activity was beneficial, and PMA was introduced all over the world.

We congratulate Dr Ashraf Nizami for his personnel efforts, bringing an excellent name to PMA, and building a soft image of Pakistan.

Situation of Dengue in the Country 

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) is very concerned about the rising dengue cases in the country. Cases of confirmed dengue virus have been reported in thousands in all the provinces. The situation is very alarming, and we doubt that it may not become an epidemic. Thank God that the number of cases of Covid-19 is decreasing at this stage, but these could increase if we people do not follow SOPs. Our weaker Health delivery System cannot take the pressure of another outbreak of disease, so the Government should immediately take preventive measures to control Dengue.   

The Government should immediately start an anti-mosquito spray campaign on an emergency basis throughout Pakistan because the only prevention for Dengue is to eliminate mosquitoes from the country because there is no vaccine or specific treatment to combat this disease. Elimination of mosquitoes will also end the other mosquito-borne diseases like Malaria, Chikungunya, etc.

Corona Situation in the Country: 

We are thankful to God for declined Coronavirus situation in the country. Fortunately, the number of Corona cases and deaths has decreased. The burden in hospitals is decreasing, and the numbers of ventilators are vacant. But after that, we should be careful and follow SOPs to avoid any further wave of Corona.

The vaccine is the most protective shield against Covid-19; PMA advises people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Do not listen or pay attention to misunderstandings and myths related to the Covid-19 vaccine. It is not harmful in any way. The people who do not get vaccinated could face severe consequences of the disease.

Air Pollution:

Lahore and Karachi have been ranked third and fourth on a list of the world's most polluted cities. This shows the poor environmental condition of our country, which is deteriorating day by day. This report is very alarming and has raised serious questions over the performance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Environmental Protection Department (EPD), which seemed to fail in implementing the standard operating procedures to counter Air Pollution.

The emission of carbon from vehicles, factories, generators and the burning of garbage pollutes our environment and makes our cities unlivable. In Pakistan, one in 10 deaths in children under five is caused by air pollution. Due to this air pollution, diseases of ENT and Chest are increasing geometrically, including Nasal Allergy, Sour Throat, Sinusitis, Laryngeal Cancer, Nasal Obstruction, Bronchitis and Lungs Cancer.

New Health Policy: 

Unfortunately, the present Health Policy was launched in 2009, which still has not been implemented in letter and spirit. The Central Council Meeting of the Pakistan Medical Association demanded a new Health Policy for the country to meet the present-day challenges of the Health Sector to improve the health delivery system.