Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has condemned the federal government for constituting, eight-member advisory committee to run the affairs of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
"This is unconstitutional and illegal, we outrightly reject this advisory committee," PMA said in its statement on Monday. President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated the PMDC Ordinance on 5th January 2019, under which a 17-member council was formed to run the affairs of PMDC. However, this ordinance was rejected on 29th August through a resolution in senate.
After rejection of PMDC Ordinance 2019 in Senate, the ad hoc committee should have been formed, and given the task to conduct elections of PMDC, within the given time period, according to the PMDC Ordinance 1962 (amended in 2012).
Running the affairs of PMDC through few blue eyed persons is not good for medical education and health delivery system in Pakistan. PMA has always stressed upon to make PMDC an autonomous, independent, transparent, democratic and vibrant body to look after the related issues in a democratic and transparent way. PMA demanded of the President and prime minister of Pakistan to intervene immediately and dissolve this advisory committee.