PMA rejects PMDC advisory committee

KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) condemned the Federal Government for constituting an eight-member advisory committee to run the affairs of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

Secretary-General, Pakistan Medical Association (Centre), Dr S M Qaisar Sajjad, in his statement, said that this is unconstitutional, illegal, and we outrightly reject the formation of this advisory committee. He informed that the President, Dr Arif Alvi, promulgated the PMDC ordinance at the start of the year under which a 17-member council was formed to run the affairs of the PMDC.

However, this ordinance was rejected through a resolution in the Senate. Following the rejection of the PMDC Ordinance 2019 in the Senate, an Adhoc committee should have been formed and given the task to conduct the PMDC elections, within the given time period, in accordance with the PMDC Ordinance 1962 (amended in 2012).

Running the affairs of the PMDC employing the help of a few blue-eyed people will not benefit the medical education and health delivery systems of Pakistan.

He said the PMA has always stressed on making the PMDC an autonomous, independent, transparent, democratic, and vibrant body to look after concerned issues democratically and transparently.

Dr Qaisar Sajjad demanded the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan to intervene immediately and dissolve this advisory committee.

He suggested the government to give up its undemocratic policy for controlling the PMDC. The PMA wants to conduct immediate elections as per the constitution of the PMDC. Furthermore, the elected body should manage the affairs of the PMDC.