If someone doesn’t live in Islamabad,Rawalpindi, then there is no way for them to obtain any assistance from the PMDC.
KARACHI: I am a doctor working in a private hospital in Karachi. Recently, I got an opportunity to study overseas on a fellowship. One of the requirements of the fellowship was to send in certain documents which I had to obtain from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) — these included a letter of good standing and one of experience. I applied for the documents about two months ago and am yet to hear from the Council. I have called almost every telephone number that I could get hold of but no one picks up the phone.
I am describing my ordeal because I want to drive home the point that if someone doesn’t live in the Islamabad/Rawalpindi area, then there really is no way for them to obtain any assistance from the PMDC. The information on their website is limited and if you send an email to the addresses mentioned on the website, you will never get a response. Given the hefty fees that are charged by the PMDC for these services, it is perfectly justifiable for someone like myself to demand that the body be held accountable for its red tape.
I would appeal to the minister for health to do something about this so that all those doctors who have to deal with the PMDC can have an easier existence.
A troubled doctor
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2013.
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