BAHAWALPUR: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has taken serious notice of shortage of teaching staff at the Quaid-i-Azam Medical College (QAMC).

It was learnt that the council regretted no increase in strength of the teaching staff by the government since its establishment decades ago and conveyed its displeasure to the college authorities.

The council told the college principal it wanted to pay a visit to assess the state of the teaching staff.

Also read: PMDC warns FJMC of ‘closure’

According to a source, it also asked college officials to hire teaching staff in accordance with the requirements of the PMDC.

Dawn learnt that currently four posts of professors and eight of assistant professors were lying vacant.

College remained understaffed since its inception 44 years ago

QAMC Principal Prof Dr Haroon Khursheed Pasha is presently on ex-Pakistan leave. Officiating principal Prof Dr Ijlal Haider Rizvi confirmed to Dawn that PMDC had asked them to fill vacant posts of teachers. He also confirmed the council planned to inspect the institution for which the college administration had replied with a request to fix an appropriate date for the visit.

Regarding shortage of staff, he said the PMDC had been told that the Punjab government was asked time and again to complete the strength of the teaching staff in the college.

He claimed that staff on the basic sides was complete, however on the clinical side the college faced shortage. Prof Rizvi added that promotion and upgrading of several staff members were also in the pipeline.

Since its establishment in 1971, the Punjab government had failed to complete the strength of the teaching faculty at QAMC as a result of which outgoing medical graduates suffered and were forced to complete their studies without qualified and experienced senior medical teachers.

It seemed the situation had aggravated to such an extent that the PMDC had to intervene.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2015

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