President gives assent to PMDC Bill 2022

PMC will cease to exist after president signs amended bill to restore PMDC

ISLAMABAD:

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday gave his assent to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Bill 2022 after its passage by the parliament.

The president signed the bill exercising his powers under Article 75 of the Constitution, a President House statement said.

In October 2022, Senate passed the PMDC (Amendment) Bill but after inserting dozens of amendments into it already passed by the National Assembly but a number of amendments were made to them in the upper house. The bill was moved by PPP legislator Jam Abdul Karim.

Earlier, during the long debate on the bill, opposition members alleged that the legislation was meant to create a lot of incompetent medical professionals and serve the vested interests.

The Pakistan Medical Commission will virtually cease to exist after a president signed the amendment bill to restore the defunct PMDC.

The Senate Standing Committee on Health earlier 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.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2023.