PAMI seeks end to central induction policy

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Association of Medical and Dental Institutions (PAMI) has urged the government to scrap the central induction policy, restore the authority to set fees to colleges and investigate alleged alterations in committee meeting minutes.

Addressing a news conference, PAMI President Professor Dr Chaudhry Abdul Rehman said the healthcare sector is facing severe challenges, stressing that their primary goal is to safeguard the country's healthcare system.

Citing the WHO, he noted that at least 6 per cent of a country's budget should be allocated to health, whereas in Pakistan, the share remains just 2 to 2.5 per cent.

He highlighted a critical shortage of doctors and nurses in the country, pointing out that ideally there should be one doctor per 1,000 people, but in Pakistan, there is only one doctor for every 1,300–1,400 people. While the private sector provides services through 40,000 hospital beds, it still faces significant operational challenges.

Professor Rehman said the central induction policy has adversely affected merit, leaving many seats vacant. Millions of students appear in the MDCAT examination, yet a large number remain deprived of admission. He also highlighted that private medical colleges face heavy expenses.