Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) has rejected the recent formation of the Pakistan Medical Commission through a Presidential Ordinance. In press statement issued on Tuesday, President of PDA Dr Mahmood Shah and its Secretary-General Prof Nasir Ali Khan said the formation of the "Pakistan Medical Commission" through a Presidential Ordinance is yet another joke with the health of the nation.
Only the nomenclature has been changed, as otherwise this commission again consists of nominated persons like the previous Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, whereby the government-nominated persons were given charge of the PMDC, they said. The PDA office-bearers gave the example of previously constituted PMDC through an ordinance as the two of its dissenting council members were immediately shown the door and very conveniently replaced by two other nominees.
Such a situation could not exist in case of a duly elected council, they said. As such, nothing has changed even after the previous PMDC Ordinance unceremoniously lapsed as no lessons have been learnt. Only the previous council has been replaced by a more authoritarian Commission, in order to further enhance the governmental authority over an autonomous body of professionals.
Most importantly, no health goals, neither general nor that of dental/oral health, have been enunciated in the ordinance. If the previous ordinances could not be passed through legislation, then how will this one?
And why does our government want to re-invent the wheel for restructuring of the health sector when established and successful health models are available in our peer countries?
And why does not our government simply form a steering committee comprising all major parties of National Assembly and other stakeholders including Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), PDA, Young Doctors Association (YDA), Pakistan Association of Private and Medical Institutions (PAMI) to formulate a consensus on Health Structuring draft for approval by National Assembly and Senate?
In such a scenario in which such commissions are constituted through ordinances, can we hope to reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis, stunted growth, dengue, hepatitis, malaria, oral cancers, and the list goes on. Sadly, the common man will keep on suffering. "No undemocratic short cut will work. And this Ordinance will also die its natural death in 90 days, they said that is why the PDA has rejected this Pakistan Medical Commission and calls for genuine reforms in Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and formation of its new council through the process of direct elections", PDA added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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