Controversy Surrounds Pakistan Medical and Dental Council's Treatment of Foreign Medical Graduates

Date: July 4, 2023

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) is facing severe criticism for its alleged unethical behavior towards foreign medical graduates (FMGs), leading to growing concerns among stakeholders. Several organizations, including PIMSA-Central and Team Justice for Foreign Medical Graduates, have raised their voices against the council, citing corruption and incompetence as significant issues.

The primary concern centers around the PMDC's failure to conduct the licensing examination for FMGs within the required timeframe of one year. Critics argue that this delay has not only caused frustration among aspiring doctors but has also raised doubts about the council's ability to fulfill its responsibilities.

Efforts to address these concerns through appeals to the Health Minister have been met with disappointment, as the PMDC recently announced the schedule for the licensing exam without clarifying the examination criteria. This lack of transparency has further fueled the allegations of incompetence and mismanagement.

Moreover, accusations of plagiarism have surfaced, with the PMDC allegedly reproducing content from the previously abolished National Licensing Examination (NLE) criteria without conducting any investigation or scrutiny. In a recent open meeting, the new PMDC Council reportedly declared a passing percentage of 50% for the NLE, a decision that critics argue reflects the council's inability to establish effective evaluation standards.

Adding to the growing discontent, the examination fee for FMGs has been doubled from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000, while the professional licensing fee for local graduates remains significantly lower at Rs. 1,000. This discrepancy has raised concerns about discriminatory practices within the PMDC and has been labeled as unacceptable treatment of foreign graduates.

Members of the organizations advocating for justice in this matter are calling upon PMDC officials to address these issues urgently. They emphasize the need for a more efficient and transparent examination process, fair evaluation standards, and equal treatment for all medical graduates, regardless of their origin.

Furthermore, these groups are urging Health Minister Qadir Patel to intervene and resolve the prevailing issues surrounding FMGs. They emphasize that they are aware of their rights and are prepared to fight for them.

The PMDC is now under mounting pressure to rectify the situation and ensure a fair and inclusive environment for all medical professionals. Failure to address these concerns may lead to further actions and protests from foreign medical graduates.

Press Contact:

Justice for FMGs

PIMSA

pimsa2023@gmail.com