PMA objects to unconstitutional PMDC decisions

KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) recently expressed its concern over the practice of taking unconstitutional decisions by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC). We reiterate to run the affairs of the PMDC according to its constitution.

Secretary-General, Pakistan Medical Association, Dr S M Qaisar Sajjad, in his statement said that the PMA is very disturbed regarding the registration of the Honorary Fellowship awarded by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP). This is a violation of the PMDC’s own decisions taken by its previous management.

According to the decisions taken by the previous Council headed by retired Justice Shakirullah Jan, no honorary degrees would be registered by the PMDC.

The PMA believes that only those degrees should be registered, which are awarded based on passing an exam and no honorary degree should be registered. If any institution awards honorary fellowships, it does not mean that it is obligatory for the PMDC to register these degrees. It is against the rules and norms to register such degrees.

The PMDC should register only those candidates who passed the graduation or post-graduation exams and submitted their degree.

It is more depressing that two members of the Council who objected on the registration of honorary degrees have been removed from the Council. According to the reports, they also raised the questions on the irregularities in the inspection process of medical colleges. People who raise their voice for rules and regulations are not acceptable to the PMDC. Two more members of the PMDC were removed by the Prime Minister's Office on July 17, 2019, on a different pretext.

This means that there is no rule of law as far as the PMDC is concerned. It seems to be an autocratic rule. This kind of attitude will eventually end up in an ultimate disaster for this regulatory body.

The PMA once again demands to hold immediate elections as per the PMDC Ordinance 1962, and the elected body should manage the affairs of the PMDC as an independent, transparent, democratic, and vibrant body.