Territorial differences: NAB steps in to check ‘affairs’ of medical institutes

PMDC should have been taken into confidence as this is our domain: council president.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has set on the task of checking if the affairs of all medical and dental institutions in the country are in order according to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) regulations of 2012.

Traditionally, this monitoring activity falls within the ambit of the PMDC itself, making this an unusual move on part of the anti-corruption organisation. According to a NAB regional official, the inordinate increase in the number of private medical colleges across the country in the last five years has necessitated the inspection. “The bureau can take cognizance of all offences falling within the purview of National Accountability Ordinance and that is why it has taken notice of the situation under its Prevention Regime Initiatives,” said the official, requesting not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media on the subject.



Meanwhile, official documents available with The Express Tribune revealed that the bureau has asked the Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences for Girls for inspection of its academic and administrative affairs as well as the admission process. This was reportedly done without taking the PMDC, the country’s prime regulatory body of medical education, on board.

The private medical college exclusively for girls was recognised by the PMDC in 1998. It is expected to announce the names of students to be inducted in its 15th batch of MBBS as well as third batch of BDS on October 31.

Overstepping jurisdiction?

The council’s regulations categorically state that inspection of the medical and dental institutions may be carried out by the inspectors appointed by the PMDC’s executive committee and commissioned by the president of the council. “The bureau’s intervention, in this manner, contradicts with the PMDC Ordinance,” said the council’s president, Dr Masood Hameed Khan, when contacted by The Express Tribune.



Dr Khan said that he has written to the NAB director-general, asking the bureau to avoid such measures which could create an environment of fear and harassment at the medical institutions. “NAB should pinpoint the nature of irregularities — whether it is a matter of academics, administration or finances — as the process of inspection is highly technical and the PMDC’s qualified inspectors undertake it with great care,” said Dr Khan. “The council will support the bureau in its investigations for which it is permitted through the law, but NAB just can’t supersede and take on the role and function of the PMDC.”

Jinnah Sindh Medical University’s vice-chancellor, Prof. Tariq Rafi, was also in agreement that by law, PMDC was the governing body for all medical colleges across the country which was entitled to inspect whether medical and dental institutions were fulfilling the requisite criteria mentioned in PMDC regulations of 2012. “NAB’s intervention in affairs of the institutions is quite surprising and we will have to see whether this comes within the bureau’s purview.”

Fishing expedition?

The bureau and the council haven’t been on the best of terms since cases of alleged malpractices and corruption at the PMDC are being investigated by the NAB as well as the Federal Investigation Agency. This recent episode will not do much to help the situation as miscommunication — intentional or unintentional — appears to have arisen. Earlier on May 29, the NAB headquarters had written to all four regional offices, and copied the PMDC officials, directing that an official each from the two bodies should start inspecting private medical colleges by June 10. While blaming the PMDC for delays in the joint inspections, the bureau said that the PMDC officials were intentionally avoiding NAB’s involvement in inspections for reasons best known to them. “Reportedly, inspections of medical colleges have been conducted by the PMDC without involving the NAB,” stated the letter.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.