ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: The government will soon introduce a legislation to close down medical colleges not recognized by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), besides enforcing strict merit system in the admission system of the institutions both in the private and public sector, said Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan on Wednesday.

During the question hour of the Senate, the minister said only one private medical college had met the PMDC criteria for recognition, while 24 private sector colleges were provisionally recognized.

The government has already asked the medical colleges to fulfil the required criteria by March 2004, otherwise they would be forced to close down.

“Medical profession is a very sensitive and responsible job and to restore the lost credibility of our doctors abroad we have to bring in stringent laws to streamline the profession,” he said.

“I have also asked the PMDC to put advertisements to inform the public which colleges are recognized by it,” he said. This, however, was also endorsed by Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro by stressing the need to create awareness among the people in this regard.

The minister said permission was not required for investing in undergraduate medical education in the private sector. However, under the Medical and Dental Council Ordinance 1962, the qualifications granted by a medical institution have to be recognized in consultation with the PMDC under section 11(2) of the ordinance.

Likewise, the PMDC is authorized to inspect examinations for granting qualification and assessing courses of study and facilities. The council is also authorized to make regulations to prescribe minimum standard of examinations.

About different steps taken by the government, he said the PMDC had written to the provincial governments to close down the colleges not recognized by it. The current status of the medical colleges has also been put on the internet (www.pmdc.org.pk) and periodically published in newspapers for public information.

The seven private medical colleges which are not recognized by the PMDC are: Islamabad Medical and Dental College, Independent Medical College, Faisalabad; Al-Huda Medical College, Lahore; University College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore; The University of Faisalabad Medical and Dental College; Jinnah Institute of Medical Sciences, Peshawar; and Abbottabad International Medical College.

The minister also informed the house that budget in the health sector had been increased by 30 per cent this year.

He said the government had earmarked an amount of Rs190 million to establish a burns unit at Pims, Islamabad.

For the upgradation and renovation of Pims, another scheme costing Rs273 million was under implementation.

Similarly, to establish a cardiac surgery department at Pims, he added, a proposal costing Rs373 million was in the process of examination and would soon be sent to the CDWP.

For the rehabilitation of the children hospital, a fund of Rs714 million has been approved by the CDWP, which would be met by the financial assistance of Japan.