PMA seeks representation in PMDC - Ad hoc body urged to hold free, fair polls

MN Report

KARACHI - Pakistan Medical Association’s (PMA) secretary general, Dr Mirza Ali Azhar, has demanded of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to give due representation to PMA in the proposed Council of Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC). 

Speaking at a news conference along with PMA’s (Centre) treasurer Dr SM Qaisar Sajjad at the PMA House, Dr Mirza said that the PMA being the largest and recognized organization of the country’s doctors and a major stakeholder in the field of medical education, patient care, health policy and doctors’ rights, must be given representation in the PMDC by nominating its official.

He said that it was because of PMA’s consistent struggle and continuous support of the media that the PMDC’s illegal and unconstitutional body was dissolved through a presidential ordinance and, subsequently, a five-member ad hoc managing committee was formed to accomplish its task in four months by conducting free and fair elections of the PMDC’s new body.

Urging the Ministry of National Health Services to immediately start the process of restructuring PMDC, Dr Mirza hoped that the ad hoc management committee will conduct free and fair elections without deviating from its mandate.

He also demanded that all the applications pending with the PMDC for registration should be sorted out forthwith and all those doctors willing to renew their PMDC registration must be facilitated.
Moreover, the ministry’s officials who helped and encouraged those, who were not even members of the Council, in occupying offices in PMDC from March 20, 2014 till the promulgation of the ordinance on Aug 28, 2015, must be identified and exposed, he added.

At the outset, Dr Mirza urged the authorities to expose and bring to justice all those PMDC officials, who connived with the `so-called’ president as well as with `a very powerful member’ of the council in their corrupt and illegal practices.

CONGRESS: Referring to the Pak-China Medical Congress which is schedule to be held under the aegis of PMA from Jan 8 to 10, 2016 at the city’s Marriott Hotel and Arts Council Pakistan, Dr Qaiser Sajjad said that preparations for this mega event were in full swing and the PMA is in touch with the Chinese Medical Association. He hoped that the congress will be attended by a large number of renowned physicians and medical specialists.

He asked the health experts to submit their abstracts in the PMA House by Nov 15, 2015 for Pak-China Medical Congress.