Ex-Employees protest against PMC Ordinance

ISLAMABAD- The ex-employees of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) staged a protest in front of National Press Club (NPB). The protest was arranged by the members of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Employees Movement, which also staged a sit-in in front of the council's headquarters. The protest was against the dissolution of PMDC. They asked for immediate restoration of the council and all employees. The protesters said that they would continue their protest until the concerned authorities consider their demands

It was decided that all PMDC employees would be given their dues and allowances while employees working for more than a year would be given additional allowances along with their basic salary. It was also decided that the commission would give preference to sacked PMDC employees in the recruitment process.

The government had dissolved the PMDC and established the Pakistan Medical Council (PMC). The reason behind was the regulation of the medical profession in the country and to make the body more efficient. The other objectives were to establish a uniform standard of education, training and recognition of qualifications in medicine and dentistry.

The newly formed PMC included the president along with nine members. The members of PMC were from the civil society, a surgeon general from armed forces' medical service, the president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP). The remaining others had medical and dental background.

The commission would operate for three years after which, it would become a corporate institution. It had been stated in the ordinance that a National Medical Authority Commission would serve as its secretariat. PMC had been given the powers of issuing and renewing licenses of doctors. All records of PMDC, including accounts commission, had been moved to the new body.