PMDC tender discrepancy in senate panel

To take up issue of CPSP certification recognition with UAE authorities

ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Wednesday questioned the massive variation in bids submitted by shortlisted companies for installing a digitised system in the apex medical education regulatory body of the country.

The committee also decided to take up the issue of the United Arab Emirates refusing to recognise certificates from Pakistan’s top physician and surgeon body.



The Senate committee on health met at the Parliament House on Wednesday with Senator Ateeq Shaikh in the chair.

During the meeting, the variation in bids submitted for providing a management information system MIS) to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) was discussed.

In response to the tender issued by the council, five companies had applied.

PMDC told the committee that they had conducted pre-qualification of the bids. An evaluation report was submitted on May 15, 2018, and the council shortlisted three firms including the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), Makkays and Cyber Vision were shortlisted for fulfilling 70% of the criteria set by the PMDC.

The council added that they considered the company’s profile, work history in the government sector, details of 10-large-scale projects with contact reference and valid registrations with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB).

It was revealed that Cyber Vision had been dropped owing to the lapse of time.

However, Nespak had submitted a bid of Rs70.55 million while Makkays had tabled a bid of just Rs1.5 million. The committee directed PMDC to ensure that due diligence was conducted to ensure that no loopholes remain and that the selected company completes the project within the rates quoted. It was further stressed that PMDC ensures that the quality of work is not compromised.

The PMDC was further asked to present details of the tender to the committee and proceed only after getting the green light from the committee.



Doctor certifications in UAE

The committee discussed the issue that advanced medical certificates and degrees of Pakistani doctors, issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), were not being recognised by UAE authorities causing problems for Pakistani doctors.

While discussing the matter, the committee members stressed the need to take up the issue more rigorously as the future of fresh medical graduates depends on it.

Senator Shaikh stressed the need for quick action on the issue and said that the committee would meet with the UAE ambassador and other authorities in the Gulf state for recognition of CPSP certification. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2018.