Policy dialogue on medical education in Pakistan held

Islamabad
Riphah International University held a policy dialogue on ‘Medical Education in Pakistan and Way Forward’ here on Tuesday. The dialogue discussed graduate and postgraduate medical education.
Senator Karim Ahmed and Dr. Azhar Jadoon, MNA, Professor Dr. Masood President PMDC, Dr Fazal Hadi, Member Judicial Commission on Medical affairs, Dr. Umer Principal RMC, Dr. Massod Anwar Principal IIMC, Prof Dr Junaid Sarfraz Khan Pro-VC University of Health Sciences Lahore, Dr. Iqbal Khan VC Shifa University, Major Gen. (r) Naeem ul Majeed, Principal Foundation University and Medical College, Major General (r) Zia Ullah Khan, Principal Wah Medical College, Brigadier (r) Prof Dr. M. Sultan Muzaffar, Principal Yusra Medical & Dental College, Prof. Dr. Umar Ali Khan, Principal Al-Nafees Medical College, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam Shah, Principal Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Musarat ul Hussain, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Dr. Sameer, Secretary, PMDC Pakistan, Brigadier (r) Dr. Azhar Ul Hassan Shah, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Prof. Dr. Ulfat Basheer, Principal IIDC, Major General (r) Khaliq Naveed, Dean RARE, Riphah University and Dr. Rashid Aftab, Director Public Policy participated in the event.
Dr. Rashid gave the introductory remarks in context with medical education and policy framework. Major General Masood Anwar placed various questions with regards to; need assessment for graduate/postgraduate, number of college required and gap analysis, open merit implications, role of private sector and national polices, provision of free bed and Government constitutional obligation for the treatment, Internationally compatible system by 2023 and pertinent issues in postgraduate education in context with clinical and research experience and to undertake PhD programmes within HEC framework and PMDC requirement.
The house agreed that comprehensive framework is required in consultation with all the stakeholders and PMDC has to take leading role by vetting through their Executive Committee/Council. Further research is very much required in each area for developing evidence based medical education policies and their framework. Participants encouraged the young female doctors to practice the profession and demanded government to take initiative and make a policy with flexible working hours for them. Furthermore, like dedicated medical colleges for girls, similar kind of colleges to be made for boys as well in order to increase the male doctors in Pakistan. Participants said Government has to assess total doctors’ required for the country keeping in view the attrition rate and check if present public and private medical colleges can fulfil the need or not. The house also discussed the potential benefits for the public in Public-Private partnerships in health sector. Strengthening medical education system through; curriculum, standards, accreditation, knowledge and clinical skills, competency, qualified faculty, minimizing disparity between rural and urban and developing infrastructure is inevitable. President PMDC assured the house that they will be accredited by WFME so that Pakistani doctors can practice in Europe and North America.