LAHORE, June 27: Federal Health Minister Naseer Khan has said a Senate committee is considering a proposal that MBBS graduates must do one-year service in rural areas before claiming their degree. Speaking at the Pakistan Medical Association, Punjab, oath-taking ceremony at a local hotel on Monday, he said the federal government was planning to launch a drive against quackery as well as substandard and spurious drugs. He said the government wanted to cleanse the country of spurious drugs within six months.

Mr Khan asked the PMA and Medical Teachers Association to submit recommendations to strengthen Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan.

He said the health ministry had decided to involve the PMA and other professional bodies in its policy-making process. He said the PMA should discuss each and every matter concerning doctors’ community.

Mr Khan said the government had made ‘implementation’ the key word to ensure development in the health sector.

Earlier, the federal health minister administered oath to the newly-elected body of the Punjab PMA.

The elected office-bearers are: Dr Syed Muhammad Ali (president), Dr Zahid Mohiuddin (president-elect), Dr Riaz Shahbaz Malik (vice-president, Rawalpindi), Dr Shabbir Malik (vice-president, Dera Ghazi Khan), Dr Jehangir Kanwal (vice-president, Faisalabad), Dr Sajid Imami (vice-president, Multan), Dr Ziaullah Bajwa (vice-president, Lahore), Dr Abdul Waheed Chaudhry (vice-president, Bahawalpur), Dr Sikandar Warraich (vice-president, Sargodha), Dr Ishtiaq Safdar Tarar (vice-president, Gujranwala).

Dr Faiz Rasool (secretary-general), Dr Izhar Hashmi (finance secretary), Dr Wajid Ali and Dr Khawar Abbas (joint secretary).