January 16, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 15, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 15: The Pakistan Medical Association has expressed concern on proposed amendments to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council ordinance, which it alleged were aimed at serving vested interests in the ministry of health. “In the proposed amendment, it is suggested that an administrator nominated by the government will run affairs of the PMDC,” a press release stated on Sunday.

Rejecting another proposed amendment, it said that the proposal to let health ministry nominate PMDC president would snatch autonomous status from the council.

The PMA reaction came against health ministry’s proposals sent to the prime minister for amending PMDC ordinance. They also came following an official announcement on Saturday, which said that nine-member committee was constituted to review curriculum status of medical education in the country and to come up with suggestions to modernize the syllabus.

It was reported that the official meeting held in Islamabad was convened in the backdrop of constant complaints against the PMDC for not updating the medical curriculum. “They do not understand that purpose of medical council is to regulate, regularize the medical education, training and medical practice in the country and protect interest of common man,” the PMA stated.

It agreed with the proposal to reduce number of council members from 63 to 29 but disagreed with the number of executive committee members at 10, which it said was also the number of quorum. It said that eight out of 10 members were government nominated who would practically act on government instructions.

Regarding other amendments, the PMA stated that director-general health was being imposed on the PMDC. Private charted accountants should audit the PMDC accounts in place of official auditors.

It said that proposed amendments did not address issue of accreditation of private and public hospital and the role of PMDC in standardization of health care and medical training in these institutes. It also criticized ambiguity in proposal pertaining to president of the council.

The PMA appealed to President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to intervene in the matter immediately and advise health ministry to stop working against people and health of nation. —PPI