The government of Sindh recently announced to form their own regulatory body for medical and dental professionals. However, many legal conundrums need to be removed to form the Sindh Medical and Dental Council (SMDC).
Formation of SMDC
The Government of Sindh had opted to conduct its own tests for medical and dental institutions. It would enable candidates with 50% marks to apply for MBBS admission rather than the Pakistan Medical Council’s 65 per cent requirement. The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), on the other hand, strongly opposed the Sindh government’s proposal. As a result of the impasse, the Government of Sindh announced the formation of the Sindh Medical and Dental Council (SMDC).
Reasons for proposal of SMDC
Dr Azra Fazal Pechuhu, Minister of Health, Sindh, proposed the administration of the Pakistan Medical Commission to slash the marks for admission for applicants of MBBS and BDS. However, the management of PMC refused to cater to Dr Azra Fazal Pechuhu’s request.
According to Dr Azra, students of Sindh were not able to acquire 65% in the Medical & Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT). She expressed that Sindh will suffer a dearth of health professionals in the future, and it would lead to numerous problems in the health sector.
Stance of PMC
Sindh has 7,000 people declared successful in MDCAT. In Sindh’s government medical and dental institutes, 2,400 MBBS seats and 500 BDS seats are available. Thus, government medical and dental colleges have a total of 2,900 seats. Briefly, 7000 aspirants were passed by PMC last year, and 2900 seats were available in public sector medical and dental institutes of Sindh, so already there is a shortage of 4100 seats in Sindh.
According to the spokesperson of PMC, the request for lowering MDCAT merit reflected the goal of a small number of private institutions.
PMC Act, 2020
PMC Act, 2020 extends to the whole of Pakistan. Section 18 (1) of the act states, “The Authority shall conduct annually on a date approved by the Council and as per standards approved by the Board a single admissions test which shall be a mandatory requirement for all students seeking admission to medical or dental under-graduate programs anywhere in Pakistan.”
Subsequently, section 18(2) states, “No student shall be awarded a medical or dental degree in Pakistan who has not passed the MDCAT prior to obtaining admission in a medical or dental college in Pakistan.”
Additionally, section 29 (8) confirms that “No medical or dental practitioner shall be permitted to represent in Pakistan as having acquired or seek to practice a speciality unless the same is duly registered on his licence by the Authority.”
Furthermore, section 34 (2) declares, “Whoever in contravention of provisions of this Act admits students for imparting education in medicine or dentistry or admits students over and above the allowed number, shall be guilty of an offence punishable with fine which shall not be less than the sum total of the tuition fee for the whole duration of study for each admitted or over admitted student and may also be liable to the closure of such institution.”
Faith of SMDC, students and institutions violating the PMC Act, 2020
As per the PMC Act, 2020, Pakistan Medical Commission has the authority to lay down the rules and regulations for admission in medical institutes all over Pakistan and grant the licenses to practice in Pakistan.
PMC Act, 2020 clearly states that its jurisdiction is all over Pakistan. If institutions admit the students against the guidelines of PMC Act, 2020, it could result in hefty fines and closure of the institutions. Furthermore, aspirants would not be able to practice in Pakistan as per the PMC Act, 2020, if they did not acquire a licence from PMC.