Private academies may be allowed PMDC membership

The Ministry of Health is considering to give representation to the private medical colleges and universities in Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). According to the Ministry of Health sources, the decision has been taken to streamline the medical institutions in the country and improve their quality.
The Ministry had asked PMDC Vice President Professor Abdullah Jan Jaffar, who is also the Chief Executive at Children Hospital Quetta, to resolve the matter with regard to private medical institutions.
The Ministry has asked the concerned authorities to carry out spadework for giving membership to the private sector medical institutions in the PMDC, adding the representation would be given to the private medical institutions in the PMDC through a transparent and due manner.
According to the PMDC Act there is no mention of particular type of institution regarding membership of the Council, which means that private sector institutions can also become the PMDC member.
Sources said the decision would also be helpful to create harmony between the private and public sector medical institutions and both will get proper representation, adding by providing level playing field, a competition would start in the field of medical studies in the country.
According to them, private sector medical institutions were demanding since long that they are not enjoying proper representation in the PMDC and mostly public sector institutions are the PMDC members. It is pertinent to mention that the PMDC had been reluctant to provide representation to the private sector medical institutions on the ground that these institutions have been recognised on provisional basis.
Presently only one medical college in the private sector, the Aga Khan Medical College has been given recognition by the PMDC on permanent basis while all other institutions have been authorised to function on provisional basis.
According to the PMDC policy, the Council grants authorisation functioning of private medical institution for a period of one year. Moreover, after completing the specific period, the PMDC issues new provisional permission after having comprehensive inspection.
Representatives of private sector medical institutions were also demanding that if private medical institutions were working according to the set standards, then why the PMDC was not granting confirmed recognition.