Doctors’ eligibility

To practice in the country, foreign qualified doctors have to pass the eligibility test conducted by the PMDC’s National Examination Board in three steps: i) basic subjects theory examination, ii) clinical subject theory examination and iii) viva. For each step, the PMDC charges Rs10,500. Moreover, candidates have to obtain NoCs to appear in these examinations. A specimen on judicial/stamp paper is also required to be submitted for each step so that no one can challenge the results.
The recent arrest of Dr Asim Hussain has highlighted corruption in the PMDC. But no one has highlighted the injustice done to foreign qualified Pakistani doctors. There are reports that the PMDC and universities demand money (approximately Rs500,000 per step) from candidates to pass them. Because of this foreign qualified doctors are suffering a lot. The authorities concerned should take note of this injustice and address this very genuine issue.
Dr Irfan Zafar
Islamabad