RAWALPINDI, June 19: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and the health ministry on Sunday agreed to work together for making the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) a strong, independent and autonomous regulator of medical profession.

A delegation of PMA called on Federal Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan to discuss various issues relating to the profession, particularly the PMDC crisis.

The Pakistan Medical Association Secretary-General, Dr Sher Shah Syed, later told Dawn that the PMA delegation had assured the minister of all support in making the PMDC an independent and powerful regulatory body free from government intervention.

Sources said the onslaught from the PMA delegation at the meeting was so strong that it pushed the minister into a defensive mode, denying having any interests in private medical education.

“I have never pressurised the PMDC or any of its official to recognize any private institution,” the minister asserted.

Regarding another suggestion, the minister promised to give a greater role to the PMA in health policy-making matters.

He asked the premier body of the medical community to present its recommendations for implementation of the ban on smoking and making the anti-quackery drive effective.

Earlier at its meeting, the PMA expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the medical community in resolving the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council - ministry row and said it was unfortunate that certain vested interests were trying to make an issue out of nothing.

The council urged the government to permit free and independent functioning of the PMDC.

The PMA council moved a proposal for restructuring of the PMDC and reducing its strength from 63 to 33.

They proposed that four members should be elected from each province from among the registered medical practitioners. Other members should include director-general health, surgeon-general, health secretaries of all the provinces, representatives from the Senate, National Assembly, Supreme Court and journalists.

The proposal further embodied creation of more working committees of the PMDC that may co-opt members from outside the council to deliberate and decide the various issues confronting the working of council.

These committees should be structured on the pattern of General Medical Council of Britain.

The PMA council also approved a draft code of conduct for the pharmaceutical industry to prevent corruption which has been permeating the medical profession.

The council also approved and agreed to support a draft legislation for midwifery practices.