ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: The University Grants Commission (UGC), in collaboration with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, has taken up the MBBS curriculum for review and revision after 36 years.

In this regard, the National Curriculum Revision Committee held a meeting, presided over by Dr Prof Altaf Ali G. Shaikh, UGC adviser (C&T), here on Saturday.

The committee comprises of members/nominees of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and senior professors of medical colleges and health institutions of the country.

The committee revised and updated the curricula of anatomy, anaesthesiology, forensic medicine and dermatology to bring them at par with international standards.

Preparing the first draft, the experts stressed the need for improving the quality of medical education, for which increase in clinical and practical education, implementation on compulsory 75 per cent attendance and incorporation of new research and techniques were termed necessary.

They decided to hold meetings for the review and the revision of 17 subjects, taught under the MBBS programme, at UGC’s regional centres in Karachi and Lahore.

Dr Shaikh said that after consultation with the experts of 17 subjects during various meetings, recommendations had been compiled and finalized by the committee of 27 members of vice-chancellors and professors of universities and colleges.

He said the recommendations would be sent to university academic councils and boards of studies for analysis. The revision of the MBBS curriculum would be completed by February 2002, and the curriculum would be given a new shape by June 2002 to make it ready for implementation in public as well as private medical colleges and universities by 2003.—APP