Small quarters, garages being used as medical colleges: Justice Nasir
Imposes ban on prior admissions in medical colleges across Pakistan
Justice Saqib Nisar expresses anger at such colleges for charging huge sums from students as their fee. PHOTO: TWITTER
LAHORE:
The Supreme Court has restrained all unregistered private medical colleges in the city till further orders from admitting students and sought details of their bank accounts and admission fees collected.
A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, commenced proceedings in the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry on Tuesday in a suo motu notice against excessive fee structure of unregistered private medical and dental colleges.
The CJP observed that strict action would be taken against violators of the court’s orders.
The CJP also directed the chief executive officers of 14 private medical and dental colleges in Lahore to appear in person and submit affidavits about meeting the criteria laid down by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
CJP pays surprise visit to Mayo Hospital
The court also sought details of their bank accounts and admission fees collected from students.
Advocate General of Punjab Shakilur Rehman Khan, PMDC Registrar Waseem Hassan Hashmi, Lahore High Court Registrar Khurshid Anwar Rizvi and Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Ahsan Bhoon were also present on the court’s directions.
Justice Nisar regretted that no new hospital like Anmol Cancer Hospital was established during the last couple of years to provide better health facilities to the citizens despite the fact that standardised health facilities were the citizens’ right.
“It is the government’s responsibility to provide health facilities to the citizens but what has it done so far?” the CJP asked the AG Punjab.
“It is a matter of coming generations as cancer is spreading fast,” he further remarked. He also asked the Punjab’s top law officer to tell the court if any new cancer hospital was established.
The CJP vowed to hold day-to-day hearings to decide the matter within two or three months. The bench directed the colleges to submit their prospectus and details about the merit criteria, number of seats available, quota and fees collected from students besides the fee fixed by the PMDC.
Warning the unrecognised private medical colleges from admitting students, the bench observed, “The CEOs and administration bodies will be held responsible if they continue further admissions and violate court’s orders. Inquiry shall be held if any back-dated admission is mentioned.”
Besides issuing notice to Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions, the bench also directed PMDC President Prof Dr Shabbir Ahmad Lehri to appear before the court. It also directed the LHC registrar to submit a report about cases pending before the court regarding PMDC and medical colleges.
Private colleges seek hearing on fee hike
During the proceedings, PMDC’s Hashmi told the court that Rs642,000 annual fee had been fixed for private medical colleges. “But unfortunately, the private colleges charge more in the name of charity from students,” he said.
The CJP remarked, “Son of a poor cannot become a doctor if there is a huge fee.”
Young Doctors Association’s Representative Dr Salman Kazmi also appeared before the court.
The bench directed the YDA not to observe strike against the court’s orders. The YDA representative assured the court that they would not go on strike. The court adjourned further proceedings till Wednesday (today).
The Supreme Court has restrained all unregistered private medical colleges in the city till further orders from admitting students and sought details of their bank accounts and admission fees collected.
A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, commenced proceedings in the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry on Tuesday in a suo motu notice against excessive fee structure of unregistered private medical and dental colleges.
The CJP observed that strict action would be taken against violators of the court’s orders.
The CJP also directed the chief executive officers of 14 private medical and dental colleges in Lahore to appear in person and submit affidavits about meeting the criteria laid down by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
CJP pays surprise visit to Mayo Hospital
The court also sought details of their bank accounts and admission fees collected from students.
Advocate General of Punjab Shakilur Rehman Khan, PMDC Registrar Waseem Hassan Hashmi, Lahore High Court Registrar Khurshid Anwar Rizvi and Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Ahsan Bhoon were also present on the court’s directions.
Justice Nisar regretted that no new hospital like Anmol Cancer Hospital was established during the last couple of years to provide better health facilities to the citizens despite the fact that standardised health facilities were the citizens’ right.
“It is the government’s responsibility to provide health facilities to the citizens but what has it done so far?” the CJP asked the AG Punjab.
“It is a matter of coming generations as cancer is spreading fast,” he further remarked. He also asked the Punjab’s top law officer to tell the court if any new cancer hospital was established.
The CJP vowed to hold day-to-day hearings to decide the matter within two or three months. The bench directed the colleges to submit their prospectus and details about the merit criteria, number of seats available, quota and fees collected from students besides the fee fixed by the PMDC.
Warning the unrecognised private medical colleges from admitting students, the bench observed, “The CEOs and administration bodies will be held responsible if they continue further admissions and violate court’s orders. Inquiry shall be held if any back-dated admission is mentioned.”
Besides issuing notice to Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions, the bench also directed PMDC President Prof Dr Shabbir Ahmad Lehri to appear before the court. It also directed the LHC registrar to submit a report about cases pending before the court regarding PMDC and medical colleges.
Private colleges seek hearing on fee hike
During the proceedings, PMDC’s Hashmi told the court that Rs642,000 annual fee had been fixed for private medical colleges. “But unfortunately, the private colleges charge more in the name of charity from students,” he said.
The CJP remarked, “Son of a poor cannot become a doctor if there is a huge fee.”
Young Doctors Association’s Representative Dr Salman Kazmi also appeared before the court.
The bench directed the YDA not to observe strike against the court’s orders. The YDA representative assured the court that they would not go on strike. The court adjourned further proceedings till Wednesday (today).