KARACHI: Unchecked practice of foreign doctors raises concerns
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 23: The increased involvement of foreign doctors in surgery and other treatment procedures at local public and private sector hospitals has raised concerns among stakeholders, who demand that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) intervene to ensure a high standard of medical practice.
Concerned citizens expressed the view that doctors were invited from abroad and asked to perform surgery, while the PMDC stayed aloof and did not bother to enquire about the qualification and expertise the visitors possessed.
A medical professional said that patients sought surgical and other procedures without knowing the competence of the doctors in question, status of the host institutions, follow-ups after surgery and standard of the theatre facilities and critical care measures, which should be considered by the relevant quarters as well as the PMDC.
When contacted, a representative of a local private medical facility confirmed that his institution was going to hold about 10 operations, costing about Rs300,000 to 400,000 each, which would be performed by a foreign doctor very soon.
“We had advertised the operations in national newspapers recently and booked the patients for the purpose as per our target,” he said.
However, he said that his institution had so far not acquired any NOC for practice by a foreign doctor.
“We have contacted the PMDC in this regard and it is hoped that the NOC will be issued by the time the surgeries are undertaken,” the representative claimed.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Medical Association, without naming any foreign doctors or local institutions, said that the government and private hospitals were organising surgeries by inviting foreign doctors without taking any permission from the authority concerned. They are inviting patients through advertisements in newspapers, which was unethical, it added.
Dr Qaisar Sajjad, General Secretary of the PMA Karachi, said that foreign doctors must register themselves with the PMDC first in order to practice in Pakistan.
“We are not against the visits and practice by foreign doctors, but they should be regulated by the government, as it is its responsibility to protect the health of the citizens of Pakistan,” he added.
A representative of the PMDC in Karachi admitted that it was the responsibility of the council to regulate doctors’ fitness to practice. The PMDC is a statutory autonomous organisation constituted under an ordinance and has the authority to ensure good medication by health care professionals, he said.
