Don’t put our future in jeopardy

Medical students demand that the PMDC register their college

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Scores of students of the Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College on Thursday staged a demonstration and later held a sit-in to protest against the government for its failure to get their college the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council recognition.

The college was one of four medical colleges the government had established the province four years ago. The Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College is among several medical schools that have not been able to get affiliated with the PMDC.

The students set up a protest camp in front of the university and shouted slogans against the government. They said the university had put the careers of more than 500 medical students in jeopardy. “We are the first batch at the college and now have two months till graduation…our degree is worthless unless our college gets recognised by the PMDC,” one of the students said.

Principal Shamim Hassan said the students had reason to be worried. “Members of the PMDC had visited the college 18 months ago. Our college fulfils all requirements and we follow the standard fee structure. Yet the PMDC did not register our college…We are trying to raise this issue at every platform.”

The protesting students said that they had found out a few months ago that the university had not been recognised by the PMDC. “However, the college administration assured us that it was only a matter of time till the PMDC registered the college.” “We won’t get house jobs if the PMDC doesn’t register our college,” one of the students said. “More than 500 medical students will be affected by this...many of us have gone into depression.”

The students said they should not have to suffer the consequences of the college administration’s failure to obtain registration. “This is a matter between the government, the PMDC and the Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College.”

They said the Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College was the only medical school in south Punjab that had been unable to get affiliated with the PMDC. “We only want degrees that allow us to work as doctors,” one of the students said.

The protesters said they would continue the demonstration till September 14. “If the government doesn’t pay heed to our plight, we will have no choice but to protest in front of the provincial assembly and the chief minister’s secretariat.”

Doctors that pass out from this institution will not only serve ailing humanity in Dera Ghazi Khan, but also in Balochistan and Skardu, they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2015.