Senate panel passes NUMS Bill 2015

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Defence Monday passed the National University of Medical Sciences Bill 2015.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, was attended by Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Lt. Gen (R) Abdul Qayyum, Senator Lt. Gen. (R) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Senator Attaur Rehman and Senator Brig (R) John Kenneth Williams.
The main agenda of the meeting was to address numerous objections Senator Farhatullah Babar had made regarding the bill in the previous meeting.
After Assistant Commandant AFIP Brig. Aamar’s presentation, Senator Babar appreciated timely response to majority of arguments made, but insisted that the NUMS Bill 2015 did not restrict itself under the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) which exhibits its role as a watchdog over the academic functioning of all medical institutions in the country.
Senator Babar said there is no external watchdog for NUMS and raised concern over the fact that the proposed university would be governing itself.
Objecting to the Bill in its present, Senator Babar suggested that a clause be added making it mandatory for the NUMS to follow the PMDC by-laws and regulations in matters of prescribing a uniform and minimum standard of courses and minimum qualifications and experience required for medical professors and teachers.
However, the proposal was not accepted on the ground that the amendment would have to be referred back to the National Assembly and it would cause delay in passage of the bill.
“It is unprecedented and illegal to allow NUMS to also act as regulator of medical education in some medical institutions just because those institutions are run by the military”, Senator Babar said.
To resolve the issue, Farhatullah Babar proposed three options: one, the NUMS Bill should be amended so as to recognize and give primacy to the regulatory role of PMDC in matters of regulating quality of education and qualifications for appointments in the new University in accordance with the PMDC law; second, if the army did not like to submit to a civilian regulatory body, then it should seek an NOC from the PMDC for abdicating its role and responsibility in favor of NUMS; third, even if it was not acceptable and civilian oversight was anathema to the military-run institution then the committee may pass the bill today by and he will record his note of dissent.
Senator Gen. Qayyum, Senator Gen. Tirmizi and Senator Brig John Kenneth Williams said this was a vital institution and its establishment should not be withheld any longer. Subsequently, the committee cleared the bill.
Senator Babar placed his note of dissent on record.
Senator Mushahid appreciated Senator Babar for due diligence and positive role taken by Parliament and the Senate Standing Committee on Defense in this regard, especially its role of oversight, transparency and promoting professionalism.
He also thanked all the other members for providing an issue-oriented approach to make NUSM an institution of academic excellence.