Iqbal said although the new conditions have potential, their implementation is a long-term process and cannot be completed during the next six months. STOCK IMAGE
The PMDC has directed all cadres of practicing doctors across the country to implement the requirement of at least 5 credit hours per annum of training for general physicians and at least 10 credit hours per annum for specialists of continuing medical education (CME) and continuing dental education (CDE) for the renewal of practice licences. The notices issued from the office of PMDC Deputy Registrar Dr Shaista Faisal say doctors whose licences expired after December 31, 2014, will be subject to the new conditions. In case of noncompliance by June 30, 2015, registration certificates will be issued without licences to practice.
PDF K-P spokesperson Dr Daud Iqbal said the decision was taken in haste and requires a great deal of homework. Iqbal said since the implementation of the 18th Amendment, such matters have been devolved to the provinces. “PMDC is a federal body. It has violated the new standards of procedure by intervening in a provincial matter,” he maintained.
Iqbal said although the new conditions have potential, their implementation is a long-term process and cannot be completed during the next six months.
Iqbal said at present there is no accredited institute in the country that provides such training. “A comprehensive structure, developed curriculum and trained professionals are required to train thousands of medics across Pakistan,” he said, adding the half-cooked plan will create obstacles in the provision of health facilities and will fall flat very soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2015.
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