PM withdraws nominations of PMC members

Move prompted by reports of corruption in medical exams

ISLAMABAD:

In a major development, sweeping changes were made in the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) as Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif withdrew nominations of all members of the Medical and Dental Council.

According to an official notification issued in the Gazette of Pakistan, the premier has removed the members of the PMC using his discretionary powers as per the constitution and law.

As per the notification, the members of PMC under the notification dated September 25, 2020 have been removed from the posts with immediate effect.

Syed Hasnain Tariq, Dr Khurshid Ahmed, Barrister Chaudhry Sultan Mansoor, Dr Naushad Sheikh, Dr Muhammad Zubair Khan, Prof Dr Sabte Husnain, Dr Aqeel Sheikh, Surgeon General of Armed Forces Medical Services and Secretary of Division have been appointed as interim members of the commission.

The prime minister reportedly removed the PMC members using his discretionary powers after receiving reports of corruption in the medical examinations last year.

Large-scale financial malpractice and irregularities were also reported in medical admission tests in previous years, the probe against which is pending in the Nation Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Officials said that the new commission members will be appointed on merit according to the constitution and law.

The case of alleged corruption in testing will be forwarded to the investigation agency, sources said, adding that the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) will be held as per schedule. Officials have said that a forensic audit of the PMC will also be conducted.

According to officials from the Ministry of Health, the new PMC members will be selected soon. In 2019, President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated an ordinance which dissolved the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and established PMC.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2022.