New ordinance gives unlimited autonomy to private medical colleges.

Byline: Ikram Junaidi

ISLAMABAD -- With the promulgation of the 'Pakistan Medical Commission Ordinance, 2019' unlimited autonomy has been given to private medical and dental colleges as they will now be able to charge fees of their choice.

These colleges have been allowed to give marks or points for additional tests such as interview of students. Rather than following directives of the newly formed Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), they will now be able to appoint faculty members on the directions of universities they are affiliated with.

Moreover, the ordinance will allow strict action against those doctors who have been protesting against the Medical Teaching Institution's move for privatisation of public hospitals.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's Senator Javed Abbasi, while terming the ordinance a fraud with the constitution, announced that he would file a resolution in the house for its disapproval. He claimed the promulgation of this ordinance was in violation of some Supreme Court's orders.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, however, said that the new ordinance was the need of the hour and it would address all issues related to medical education.

PML-N terms govt's move a fraud with constitution

President Dr Arif Alvi has promulgated the ordinance which has left the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) dissolved and paved the way for establishment of the new organisation, PMC. On Sunday, the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) sealed the PMDC building.

Services of the registrar and around 220 other employees of the PMDC have been terminated.

According to a copy of the ordinance, available with Dawn, the aim of the ordinance is to improve the standard of medical education in the country.

Section 19 of the ordinance states that all candidates will have to clear the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) to get admission in medical or dental colleges and only a single admission test would be held across the country.

After March 2020, students after clearing the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) will have to clear the National licensing Exam (NLE) to start practice. Earlier that requirement was only for foreign graduates.

Sub-Section 3 of Section 19 states that admission to medical or dental programmes conducted by public colleges would be regulated as per the policy of provincial governments. However, admission to a private...