With a view to help boost medical education in Pakistan, Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians (FRCP) of the United Kingdom has decided to hold ever first MRCP (UK) Part-I Examination in Pakistan in May 2007.
The examination would be held in Lahore while revision courses for Part II of the examination have also been called for. Professor Parveen Kumar, the RCP's Director for International Education, has offered her services for imparting training in Pakistan.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed revealed this in a press conference here on Thursday, while Fatima Jinnah Medical College Principal Professor Dr Akbar Chaudhary, College's International Associate Director for South Asia Dr Tanzeem Raza and Director British Council Lahore Dr Iftikhar Elahi were also present on the occasion.
The Minister said that the Pakistani medical graduates, particularly after 9/11 scenario have been facing great difficulties in getting visas of USA, UK and other Western countries. "Thus the decision of the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians would help provide opportunity to attain postgraduate qualification within the country. Besides, UK now prefers to accommodate students of European countries due to which our students, despite passing graduation with distinction, are being ignored," he added.
Responding to a question, he said that over 80 percent of the students visa applications for UK and other Western countries are being declined after 9/11 incident.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Iftikhar Ellahi said that British Council ensures integrity and sanity of the examination. He averred that the British Council has set up its offices in 109 countries and conduct examination after executing written agreement with the examining body. He dispelled the impression that with the commencement of MRCP examination in Pakistan, FRCS would be replaced and said that we are just adding other options for the Pakistani students. "We encourage linkages between the Pakistani and the UK institutes," he maintained.
Dr Tanzeem Raza said that besides holding MRCP examination in Pakistan, student exchange programmes would be initiated so that local students could have opportunities of foreign exposure.