PM aide briefed on PMDC operations, future plans

Islamabad : Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, coordinator to the prime minister on national health services, visited the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) headquarters here and learned about the regulator's operations and future plans.

PMDC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj updated him about the organisation's recent moves to streamline processes, especially the accelerated issuance of teaching experience certificates. Dr Mukhtar asked him about the measures taken to resolve pending cases efficiently. Prof. Dr. Rizwan highlighted the rigorous procedures required for issuing teaching experience certificates.

He said each certificate undergoes a meticulous, multi-step verification process including institutional verification in which certificates cannot be issued without clearance and confirmation from the institutions where the doctor has previously worked and the case assessment of each application is unique even a single day of work is critically evaluated through detailed calculations and evidence-based verification. The PMDC president said applicants submitted a range of publications from a minimum of five to over 89 articles that are thoroughly reviewed for authenticity.

According to him, over the past 11 months, the PMDC has addressed a significant number of inquiries and emails from medical professionals. In addition to technological advancements, PMDC had improved communication strategies by updating its website with dedicated staff contact numbers and streamlined helplines to better serve the community. The aide to PM also visited the PMDC IT department and examined the newly-enhanced IT innovative initiatives and plans introduced to support operational efficiency.

He also learned about the recently launched dedicated online portal designed to expedite the verification process and reduce the processing time for teaching experience certificates. Dr Mukhtar appreciated the PMDC initiatives and issued directives to accelerate the processes and ensure that the quality of medical education in Pakistan meets international standards. He said that PMDC could alert educational institutes to complete the verification process promptly, ensuring a prompt and efficient evaluation of all cases. He ordered immediate action to dispose of pending applications.

The aide to PM emphasised the need for swift resolution to clear the backlog and improve service delivery. He added that an emergency digitisation of the PM&DC inspection system should be done to enhance transparency, accuracy, and accountability in the Council’s operations. Dr. Mukhtar said the government was determined to elevate the quality of medical education in Pakistan to meet international standards. “We will ensure effective measures for the improvement of medical education,” he said.