Delegation to discuss medical degrees’ issue with Saudi authorities

After the recent de-recognition of some Pakistani medical degrees by the Kingdom

ISLAMABAD: A committee has been established to address emerging challenges in medical education, including undergraduate and graduate education, clinical certification, health research and research oriented education, adoption of international standards, and addressing equivalence and certification issues in other countries.

The committee will be headed by Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman and include representatives of the Ministry of Health, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), and universities providing medical education.

This was decided at a meeting of the heads of key health education institutions in the country including HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri. The meeting took note of the recent de-recognition of some Pakistani medical degrees by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and constituted a five-member delegation to resolve the matter with Saudi authorities. The delegation will comprise of representatives of the medical universities in addition to HEC.

It was discussed that recently there were instances in which Pakistanis having MD/ MS degrees have been removed from their services and were asked to leave Saudi Arabia. It was noted that although few Pakistani medical universities have already shared their syllabi, monitoring and evaluation system and other documents with relevant authorities, however, there is a need to take up this issue collectively.

The meeting also reviewed the experience of Pakistani students studying in medical colleges in other countries and the current additional requirements for them when they return to Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2019.