PMA welcomes dissolution of PMDC executive council

Karachi
The Presidential Ordinance pertaining to dissolution of the controversial executive council of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) was welcomed by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), in a meeting held at its office on Sunday.
A statement issued by the PMA General Secretary Dr Qazi M Wasiq, stated the decision would strengthen the field of medical education in the country.
The meeting observed that the ordinance was a culmination of sustained efforts put in by the PMA at every possible forum.
Expressing renewed confidence in the system, the PMA officials appreciated the decision of the highest office of Pakistan, although taken after much ado. While it was good to have individuals with vested interest removed from positions of authority, the meeting stressed the job was only half done.
Medical practitioners who were already associated with private medical colleges should not be allowed to be a member of the PMDC as those who were supposed to be regulated cannot be members of the regulatory body, the meeting further stated.
The participants also called for a detailed inquiry into all the misdeeds reported to have been committed by members of the discredited executive council.
The first step in the direction, they observed would be to initiate the long overdue financial audit of the association and those found guilty should be barred from ever representing the PMDC.
In reference to the Health Commission Bill, penned by the PMA and Sindh government, the participants observed that had the bill been implemented in letter and spirit, most of the problems being faced by the medical fraternity would have been satisfactorily solved.
PMA Karachi office bearers also discussed the issue of compensation money to be paid to the families of doctors who were killed in targeted attacks in the past few years.
The support money was promised to be paid by the Sindh Chief Minister; however, the government was yet to deliver over the promise.