The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday advised students to get admission in recognised and registered medical colleges.
According to PMDC, all such students could check the list of registered and authorised medical and dental colleges from PMDC website.
It said no medical or dental institution was allowed to train students in the evening shift and directed the medical colleges not to admit or advertise for admission of students for evening shift unless institution is allowed to admit students in evening shift, read a press release.
It said training of students in an institution in evening shift could not cover under the law and would have penal consequences as ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan 2007 SCMR 323 and violations of PM&DC Ordinance 1962 and Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Act, 2012 which is liable to take action under Section 22A and 22B of Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Act, 2012.
Under the said law if any student is admitted before permission letter is issued by the council, responsibility of any adverse effect on the career of the students would be entirely on the admitting authorities, PMDC spokeswoman Hina Shaukat said.
She said under Rule 22B, whoever runs or establishes or endorses any institution or advertises admissions in an institution for imparting education in medicine or dentistry, which is not recognised under Sections 11, 11A, 16.16A or 18 or in respect of which recognition has been withdrawn under section 22, would be guilty of an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years but would not be less than a year or with fine which may extend to Rs 10 million but would not be less than Rs 5 million or with both and would also be liable to closure of such institution.
She said where any contravention of this ordinance has been committed by any government agency, local authority or local council and it appears from the relevant documents that such contravention has been committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to any negligence on the part of the head or any other officer of the government agency, local authority or local council, such head or other officer would also be deemed guilty of such contravention along with the government agency, local authority or local council and would be liable to be proceeded against punished accordingly.
The council has directed the principals and vice chancellors of medical colleges of Larkana to reply to the council regarding evening shift in substandard medical and dental institutions to avoid action under Rule 20 of Medical and Dental Institutions (Recognition, Eligibility Criteria for Enhancement in Annual Admissions and Accreditation Standards) Regulations, 2012.
She said under Rule 20, principal or dean or vice chancellor would ensure development of faculty by making available appropriate opportunities. He would be responsible for ensuring compliance of all council’s regulations and for the supply of correct information as and when required by council, any default in his duties, once reported by council to the governing body, would make him unsuitable to hold office and the governing body would then appoint a new dean or principal or vice chancellor after due process.