‘Only Aga Khan University meets PMDC’s criteria’

LAHORE – Not even a single medical university and college of both the private and public sector met the educational criteria of the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) expect Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Punjab President Dr Ashraf Nizami said on Tuesday. He was speaking at a press conference at the PMA House. Nizami said that both the federal and provincial governments should maintain a strict check and balance on all medical colleges. If the government pays handsome salaries to teaching carders, then we will discourage private practice of doctors, the PMA Punjab president said.
He disclosed that all medical colleges did not meet the criteria of the PM&DC then why the PM&DC administration is trying to start evening shift in medical colleges. Nizami said that the PM&DC has to change their decision otherwise the PMA would protest throughout the country. The PMA Punjab president said that the PMA has formed a council to resolve the issue and not only doctors but staff nurses, paramedics, medical teachers and members from various organisations will be included in the council. He said that if the Punjab government would pay handsome salaries to teaching carders then nobody will encourage private practice.
PMA Lahore President Dr Tanvir Anwar said that more than 80 to 85 percent doctors discourage private practice in case of a handsome raise in salaries. Nizami said that the PMA demanded “time-scale promotion” instead of vacancy dependant promotion, so that doctors could help patients whole-heartedly. He said that the Punjab government should implement service structure reforms as soon as possible and fill 60 percent vacant seats in public-sector hospitals.
PMA demanded the government to pay around Rs 35,000 to house officer, Rs 80,000 to medical officer, senior registrar, deputy medical superintendent and senior medical officer, Rs 0.16 million to assistant professor, additional medical superintendent and APMO, Rs 0.2 million to associate professor, MS and PMO, Rs 0.25 million to professor and in special cadres, a BPS-18 officer should be paid around Rs 0.15 million, BPS-19 Rs 0.2 million and BPS-20 Rs 0.25 million.