PMC initiates process for recognition by WFME

This will enable Pakistani doctors and students to study or work abroad

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has formally initiated the application process for recognition by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).

The entire process of assessment including a physical visit by the WFME and inspection is expected to take place in 12 to 15 months. The WFME recognition will be mandatory to enable Pakistani doctors and students to study or work abroad and specifically in compliance with the requirements of the United States. The WFME recognition is essential for Pakistan to ensure that doctors from Pakistan are able to go and train and work internationally, said a press release issued here.

The PMC will be closely liaising with the WFME and other international organisations to ensure that all requirements for recognition are fully met prior to the actual assessment and inspection process of WFME.

The PMC has planned extensive workshops and seminars for all medical colleges in Pakistan over the next four months to assist in capacity-building and enable and prepare all medical colleges for the WFME visit and inspections. The WFME recognition process initiated runs its full course divided over phases with extensive data and information submissions made and evaluated as per the steps of the WFME process culminating in the final physical visit and assessment of the PMC and selected medical colleges.

It took almost 18 months of effort for the PMC to prepare and complete the WFME process. The formal application to WFME to initiate the process required the prior approval of the new 2022 National Standards for Recognition of Medical and Dental Colleges and Teaching Hospitals as well as the 2022 National Medical and Dental Curricula, which have recently been approved and notified after the invaluable and immense effort including hundreds of hours of work put in by the National Medical & Dental Academic Board over the last 15 months to formulate and structure these standards and the curriculum.

The standards and curriculum provide the foundation for modern medical and dental education systems and the board will be continuing their work to consistently improve the standards and curriculum raising the quality bar for both colleges and students.

The commission has over the last year worked tirelessly to ensure that all regulatory processes including the recognition and accreditation of teaching hospitals and colleges as well as the admission and examination process and especially the national licensing examination are designed and implemented at the highest international standards including the introduction of digital licensing for practitioners.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2022.