ISLAMABAD: The working relation between the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), which was streamlined after a tussle of almost three years, may become bitter again as the ministry has objected to the registration of over 10 medical colleges across the country.

In a letter, the ministry directed the PMDC to take unrecognised colleges to courts and file appeals against those who have started classes by obtaining stay orders from courts without waiting for the government notification.

The May 12 letter states that a medical and dental college is considered recognised only after the federal government issues the notification of its recognition under section 11 of the PMDC Ordinance 1962.

“However, it is observed that a number of medical/dental colleges, which are yet to be granted recognition, have approached courts and obtained stay orders. Taking notice of the situation, the competent authority directs that PMDC may file appeals at appropriate higher forums up to the Supreme Court against these orders,” the letter says.

PMDC directed to take matter to court, appeal against stay orders obtained by some colleges

An official of the ministry, requesting not to be quoted, told Dawn that during the last one year the PMDC approved over 10 medical colleges - two in the public sector, two run by the army and the remaining private.

“According to rules, the colleges cannot start functioning unless they are notified in the Gazette of Pakistan. The council should have sent us the list of approved colleges by October but we received it in February and March this year,” he said.

He said after receiving the lists, the ministry formed a scrutiny committee, headed by University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor retired Maj Gen Prof Mohammad Aslam to look into the issue. The committee raised a number of questions and said there was an undue delay.

Meanwhile, the ministry also received some complaints against the colleges, he said.

“Because of the complaints, we sought a legal opinion from the law division whether we can give our input in the registration of the colleges or should we work as a post office and notify the list in the Gazette of Pakistan. But the law division said we are empowered to look into irregularities,” he said.

“We cannot notify the list while closing our eyes so we decided to send a letter to the council directing it to take an appropriate action,” he said.

In reply to a question, the official said some of the colleges had sought stay orders from the court and started classes.

“Some colleges have not sought stay orders and the application of one private college was rejected by the court. The court said it should wait for the notification by the federal government. We have directed the PMDC to take action against the unregistered colleges and file appeals against those who have obtained the stay orders,” he said.

PMDC president Dr Shabbir Lehri told Dawn that though it was an issue of concern, the ministry was supposed to notify the list rather than delaying the matter.

“We have completed our job and now it’s the job of the ministry to notify the colleges. On the other hand, colleges, which have sought stay, claim that the ministry is limited to the federal capital and cannot raise an objection against the colleges. They claim that only the PMDC can stop their cases,” he said.

“However, after receiving the letter from the ministry we will take appropriate action, including filing appeals,” Dr Lehri said.

NHS Secretary Ayub Sheikh said the ministry was doing its job in accordance with the legal opinion from the law division.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2017