ISLAMABAD: Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel on Friday said the government was considering reviewing the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) Act.

He said this during his visit to the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) where he met its management.

“We are considering reviewing the PMC Act, however, I wanted to give an opportunity to the PMC management to explain how it has been performing and what its future programmes are. Besides, I have also informed it about the concerns I have,” Mr Patel said, adding that soon a decision would be made about the commission’s future.

Meanwhile, the PMC issued a statement on Friday, claiming that its Department of Education and Evaluation had formulated and successfully implemented admissions, curriculum and easy procedures for medicine and dental students.

“The PMC Department of Education and Evaluation has ensured a transparent admission process through the digital portal for admission available to all medical universities and the medical and dental colleges are hearing students who are disturbed by the alleged irregularities in admissions so that problems faced by the students can be solved on priority,” the statement read.

In addition to ensuring the implementation of policy related to vacancies in medical and dental colleges, a transfer policy on vacancies has been implemented to facilitate the transfer of students to colleges of their choice, it added.

As many as 275 affiliated teaching hospitals were temporarily registered and recognised for house jobs and 45 unaffiliated hospitals were temporarily registered for house jobs, it added.

For the first time, seats have been allotted for house officers by the PMC. Under the government’s policy, the provision of paid house job opportunities has been ensured.

All teaching hospitals are being regularly inspected to ensure that there was a minimum quality of clinical infrastructure for training, the statement pointed out, adding that PMC is working on providing scholarships to 567 deserving students for easy access to medical and dental education.

PMC’s performance in the medical and dental department is a milestone for all students, doctors, patients, and everyone else in the department, it stated.

A spokesperson of PMC said that the department was working tirelessly towards facilitating all stakeholders and formulated policies in the larger interest of the public and students.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2022