PMC virtually ceases to exist
REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE
The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has virtually ceased to exist after a Senate penal approved an amendment bill to restore the defunct Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
The National Assembly has already passed two bills to repeal two controversial acts passed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government to change the status of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and abolish the PMDC.
The Senate Standing Committee on Health on Tuesday approved the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Amendment Bill, 2022, and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Bill 2022 with a majority vote, after which the legal status of the PMC has ceased to exist.
After the approval of the bill, the national licensing examination for doctors has been done away with and the entry tests for admissions to medical and dental colleges (MDCAT) will be held at the provincial level. After the senate body approval, both the bills have come into force.
The Senate panel held its meeting in the parliament house under the chair of Senator Dr Muhammad Humayun. Speaking at the session, Dr Humayun said that he personally went PIMs to listen to the demands of the employees.
Senator Rubina Khalid said that “we had already expressed concerns about the centralised medical system”.
Senator Bahramand Tangi said that the PIMS has been divided into groups and each group sounded right in its own capacity. However, we have to look at the institution, not groups, he said.
Senator Asad Ali Khan Junejo said that it was not long enough to assess whether the new system was right or wrong. He inquired whether strikes were still carried out by the PIMS employees.
Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel maintained that the health authorities deal with strikes every day. He said that the hospital is a delicate place and health regulators cannot do experiments. “The previous government wanted to generate revenue in government hospitals. How can the same doctor treat for free during the daytime and for money in the evening? he asked, adding that under the existing system, the evening patient gets more attention from the doctor.
He said that the previous law was made in haste by the PTI. He also said that “we never find good transplant doctors due to certain legal obstacles. We still have a special package for specialised doctors.
After a long discussion, the standing committee approved both the bill with a majority vote.
Earlier on Friday, Deputy Chairman Senate Mirza Muhammad Afridi directed the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Heath, Services, Regulations and Coordination to submit a report on Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), bill 2022, in the House immediately.
Replying to point of order in the House raised by the Minister of State of Law and Justice Shahadat Awan, the deputy chairman had said that it was a very important bill which should be passed as soon as possible, but the relevant committee has failed to present the report within the stipulated timeframe.
Awan had asked that the chair direct the chairman standing committee to present the report after two days but unfortunately it could not be presented in the House so far. He added that the bill had already been passed by the National Assembly and the committee must fulfil its responsibility to approve it without using delaying tactics.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2022.