PMDC to have 35 members only, with all provinces represented: Saira

Islamabad
The new Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), which will be elected in 120 days, will have 35 members as opposed to the earlier 81, and will have equal representation from all provinces as well as the public and private sector medical and dental colleges.
Minister of State for Health Saira Afzal Tarar shared this piece of information on Monday with the media at a press conference called in the wake of dissolution of the PMDC through a presidential ordinance.
Saira shared that the new management committee that has been constituted to hold elections and provide a roadmap within the next two weeks, has been given full powers to uphold transparency and merit. The committee comprises eminent professionals from the medical and dental profession namely, Major General (r) Azher Kiyani, Professor Abid Farooqi, Professor Nadeem Rizvi, and one representative each from the ministries of Law and Ministry.
The basic pre-condition for membership of the management committee was that none of the members should have served in PMDC at any time during the last five years. This measure was taken to ensure foreclose the possibility of conflict of interest.
"We have requested the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to nominate a member of the management committee in order to ensure conduct of fair elections," Saira said, adding "the only way forward to secure the future of doctors and medical students is to reorganise PMDC in a manner that it regains its lost reputation within the country as well as at the international level."
Saira said both the people of Pakistan as well as the medical and dental community has heaved a sigh of relief. "We look forward to a brighter future where decisions are taken on the basis of merit. The era of vested interests, corruption, and mismanagement, due to which thousands of medical professionals and students were suffering, is now over," she maintained.