May 19, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1429

PESHAWAR, May 18: The indifferent attitude of the government about providing incentives to the teaching staff of Khyber Medical College could result in derecognition of the college, officials said.

“Inspection of Khyber Medical College (KMC) by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) could result in its derecognition because of lack of teaching staff,” officials at the health department, said.

“About 20 teachers of KMC have left their jobs to join private medical colleges during the last one year. Many departments face acute shortage of teachers,” they said. Departments, such as Anatomy, Forensic Medicine, Toxicology, Bio-chemistry, Pathology, Physiology, Community Medicine and Pharmacology have shrunk to the extent that they stand fit to be derecognised.

Last week, KMC Principal Prof Fazal Ahmed was in tears on the occasion of oath-taking ceremony of the teachers association of the college, appealing to the government to save the prestigious institution from destruction. He was literally unable to speak further and left the stage immediately.

The health minister, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that he had taken oath just a month ago and knew little about the problems faced by the KMC.

KMC, the first medical institution of the province, was established in 1954. It enrolled 300 students annually while number of teachers stood at about 250. Currently, about 1,500 students are studying at the college.

According to sources the basic medical sciences department of the college is facing a shortage of lecturers as at least 12 of them left it early this month for more lucrative jobs at another department of the same institution.

Only a few months ago, more than 12 teachers, including professors, associate professors and assistant professors joined Khyber Girls Medical College (KGMC) for better salary packages. They left KMC and joined KGMC to be able to draw a monthly allowance of Rs50,000 announced by the provincial government.

KGMC is run by the provincial government due to which they stand eligible for monthly allowances, while the same was denied to them in the KMC, which is controlled by the Khyber Medical University (KMU).

Besides, the establishment of private medical colleges in the province caused severe blow to KMC, which is evident from the fact that four professors are serving at private medical colleges after taking long leaves from KMC for more salaries and benefits. While some of them have sought early retirement and are working at private colleges.

KMU had upgraded the teaching staff of the clinical sciences of KMC, but refused the same to the teachers of the basic sciences. KMU, which is now under the control of Higher Education Commission, is required to follow its criteria of MPhil and PhDs to promote teachers.

The teachers argue that they should be treated in line with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s rule, which accepted their diplomas for promotion. Or, they should be given five to 10 year grace period to enable them to complete M Phil and PhDs, on the pattern of University of Peshawar.

About 100 basic sciences teachers of the constituent colleges of KMU are weighing options to quit their jobs for more attractive salaries.

The Basic Sciences Teachers Association of the KMU is also planning to go on strike to pressurise KMU for exempting them from the condition of MPhil and PhDs for promotion. The health minister has asked them to brief him about the situation so he could take action for redressal of the problem.