ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Saqib Nisar on Tuesday heard a case regarding the Al-Razi Medical College in Peshawar being closed down by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) because of a lack of facilities.

The petition was filed by students, who complained that their degrees would not be recognised by the PMDC unless their college was recognised again. In their petition, the students said they were also not being enrolled in other colleges, which was affecting their future and, therefore, they wanted their college to be recognised by the PMDC once more.

Al-Razi Medical College was closed down by the former PMDC management, which was not accepted by the Ministry of National Health Services because the students were not adjusted into other colleges.

The new PMDC management carried out a fresh inspection of the college and said the college had all the necessary facilities and can be allowed to operate after it constructs its own building within a year.

A representative of the college told the court that PMDC had given a report in favour of the college to which Mr Nisar said the report would be rejected if the college did not meet the basic requirements.

“We will also be investigating into the kind of education imparted at the newly registered medical colleges and the facilities available to train doctors,” he said.

Representatives of the students said that 50 students had been affected by PMDC’s move to which Mr Nisar said the future of thousands of people cannot be put at risk for the future of 50 students.

“There can be no compromises on health,” he said.

During the hearing, Mr Nisar said there had been instances where medical colleges which operated out of just two rooms had been approved. He said in many cases the facilities shown in documents were not provided in institutes.

Talking to Dawn, PMCD President Dr Shabir Lehri said the council had now approved the college after an inspection. However, he said, the council would wait for the court decision.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2016