Certification conundrum: Cuban-trained doctors demand exemption from NEB test

They expressed their concerns at a reception hosted by Senate Deputy Chairman Sabir Ali Baloch in honour of the first batch of 300 doctors who had earlier arrived here from Cuba after completing their medical education.

The medical professionals also demanded to be exempted from the National Examination Board test conducted by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

The Cuban government had offered scholarships to Pakistani students after the 2005 earthquake hit the country.

Senator Kulsoom Parveen offered full support to the students to resolve their problems and announced she would hold a meeting with PMDC officials on May 14.


HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad also assured the students that the issue would be taken up with the PMDC officials at a meeting scheduled on May 12.

the Senate Defence Committee Chairman Mushahid Hussain said Cuba has one of the best medical systems in the world and it was a matter of pride that the first batch has returned.

He said 145 students out of 300 bagged gold medals by getting 99.2 per cent marks in their exams.

Hussain also thanked the Cuban government for sending medical relief teams to help the earthquake victims in 2005.

He said that Cuba has inspired the third world with leadership that showed courage in preserving independence, despite foreign interventions.

Cuban Ambassador Jesus Zenen Concepcion was also present and felicitated the fresh graduates while expressing hope that they would invest their energies in improving the health sector of Pakistan.

Baloch hoped that they would not hesitate to go to far-flung areas of Balochistan to serve the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2014.