Authorities urged to review PMC Act

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has rejected the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) Act and demanded its review by the authorities concerned.

This was stated by the PMA Secretary-General Dr Qaiser Sajjad during a press conference.

He said the government had passed the bill in a hurry and examination of MBBS doctors for the National License Certificate (NLC) is also a sign of distrust in educational institutions.

He said they would not only protest against the Act but would also file a petition in the court.

Dr Qaiser Sajjad, while criticising the bill, said the bill of the Pakistan Medical Commission was passed within minutes from the assembly.

He said that no government official consulted PMA or any of its member to bring the bill, and as a result, students are going abroad for medical education by spending huge foreign exchange.

Dr Qaisar said that National Licensing Examination (NLE) and MD CAT examinations are a burden on the parents because after doing MBBS, there is no need of any other examination. He said that such decisions have caused or continue to cause irreparable damage to the medical education and medical profession.

The Central Council also condemned the incidents of sexual abuse in hospitals, madrassas and other institutions and demanded a safe environment.

Earlier, a meeting of the PMC was held in which officials from across the country participated and expressed their concerns over the Pakistan Medical Commission Act.

PMA President Dr Salma Kundi said that the PMC had selected people instead of election.