July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

ISLAMABAD, July 16: The Supreme Court has summoned chairman of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on July 31 to explain the criteria used in recommending over 30 institutions for recognition.

Senior judge Justice Javed Iqbal directed the concerned office of the apex court to issue the notice to the PMDC chairman, a press release issued by the Supreme Court said on Monday.

The court passed the order taking suo motu notice of the case on the basis of reports published in a section of the press. The reports alleged that PMDC had ignored its own rules and regulations while recommending over 30 institutions for recognition.

The recommended institutions also reportedly included those that had been identified as “deficient” by the inspection teams.

According to the media reports, the 108th session of the council discussed the fate of almost 40 medical institutions aspiring recognition. It said the inspection reports of none of these institutions were presented before the council despite being a mandatory requirement under PMDC regulations. The council instead took the decision on the basis of the conveners’ report.—Our Reporter