Zubair Qureshi
The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) has clarified in a statement that the council has not agreed to 20pc seat enhancement for MBBS and BDS in medical and dental colleges.
The PMDC while responding to news regarding 20pc seat enhancement for MBBS and BDS programmes in public and private colleges has clarified that no such decision has been taken and any increase in seats for MBBS or BDS is subject to the approval by the council.
Moreover, no application has been received to the PMDC from the government of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) nor the PMDC has given approval for any such seat enhancement, the statement further said.
The provincial/regional authorities can enhance their seats in medical and dental colleges with due approval from the PMDC which is the apex regulatory body of the country, it further said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PMDC has a set criteria, rules, regulations and standards in line with the global commitments for its recognition with the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).
Recognition of the MBBS /BDS programmes and enhancement of seats is done in a due procedure which includes formal requests by the provincial governments or individual colleges through the Ministry of Health.
The PMDC is a national regulatory body and according to the law, no province can work or announce any enhancement independently. The PMDC firmly disseminates that seat enhancement in public or private colleges was subject to completion of the due process, it said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the WFME has recently appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to mark international standards.
President of the WFME Prof Ricardo León-Bórquez in November 2023 had acknowledged the revision and updating of criteria as per international standards for registration of medical & dental colleges and their effective monitoring.
While talking to Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr. Nadeem Jan and PMDC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, Prof Ricardo León-Bórquez expressed pleasure to note that the PMDC has placed in practice a system according to international standards and medical profession.
