ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been elected member at large to the management committee of the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) during the 12th IAMRA international conference being held in Melbourne, Australia from September 20 to 23.

IAMRA is an international agency which registers regulatory authorities of various countries.

It is easier for the doctors of a country to move and work in another country if his native country is an IAMRA member as it ensures they meet at least the minimum standards.

Pakistan has been an international leader in the registration of practitioners in medical education.

Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) President Prof Dr Shabbir Lehri, who was the only candidate elected from Asia, will represent Pakistan and work as member at large for the next four years.

Other members include Dr Joanna Flynn from Australia, Susan Goldsmith in UK, Dr Tebogo Kgosiesile from South Africa, Dr Heidi Oetter from Canada and Dr Carlos Vital from Brazil.

According to a statement issued by the PMDC on Thursday, the meeting was attended by many delegates, most of whom were heads of regulatory authorities from across the world.

IAMRA currently has 103 members from 46 countries and PMDC is a member organisation. The IAMRA management committee has eight members at large.

IAMRA has mandated its members to carry out the policies made by the general assembly and has empowered its committee members to perform all acts and transact all business for and on behalf of IAMRA.

Minister of National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar has said the election of Dr Lehri is a proud moment for Pakistan and that as a member of the committee, the PMDC president will be leading and helping in the development of IAMRA strategies and decisions across the world.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Lehri said he presented a resolution for a faculty exchange programme with the PMDC which was unanimously accepted by IAMRA members.

“When I became president of the PMDC, our IAMRA membership had expired and during a visit to the US, the American authorities brought that into my attention. We then renewed our membership. I am the only member from Asia and the only member from a Muslim country as well,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2016