SAHIWAL: As the students’ protest entered its seventh day here on Wednesday, the provincial government has already transferred nine senior professors from different medical colleges of Punjab to Sahiwal Medical College (SMC), sources told Dawn.

Sources said Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Mr Najam Shah had issued the orders for transfer of nine professors to the SMC on Feb 22.

Some 500 students had been protesting the non-recognition of the SMC by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) despite completion of their five-year MBBS degree.

The PMDC, during its previous inspection in November 2015, had awarded 190 points to the SMC, whereas 220 are needed for an institution’s recognition by the council.

The main hindrance to the PMDC recognition of the college was non joining of five senior professors who were transferred to the SMC by the Punjab government in November 2015.

The professors who have been transferred to the college from various other institutions of the province are Dr Shoaib Farooq, Assistant Prof, Biochemistry, Allama Iqbal Medical College (AMC), Dr Zafar Shah Badar, Associate Prof, Pharmacy, Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC), Dr Uzma Hasan, Associate Prof, Obs & Gyne, Fatima Jinnah Medical College (FJMC), AP Dr Masood Ahmed, Medicine, (RMC), AP Dr Muhammad Tariq Rehmani, Pathology (AMC), Dr Sadia Muzzafar, Assistant Prof, Anatomy, (RMC), AP Dr Saeed Ahmed, Pathology (AMC), AP Dr Nasreen Ishaque, Forensic, Shaikh Zaid Medical College and Prof Dr Saqib Sohail, Physiology (AMC).

SMC Principal Dr Iftikhar, confirmed he had received the transfer orders under notification No (AMI) 21-273/2013 (P-I), issued on Feb 22.

A senior professor privy to the development told Dawn that what nattered was that whether these teachers would join the SMC or not.

“The moment they join the college, the PMDC recognition issue will be resolved,” he said.

According to sources, the transferred teachers will have to report to the SMC principal for joining the institute within 15 days of issuance of the order.

Dr Karim Sherazi, Associate Professor of Surgery at the SMC said, “This will be the last chance for SMC to get recognised by the PMDC”. We request health secretary and Punjab chief secretary to ensure compliance of the transfer order”.

On the other hand, the SMC students continued their protest for the seventh day on Wednesday by remaining on the college campus.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2016