ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Sunday rejected the recently promulgated Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Ordinance by declaring it a step towards dictatorship in the council and urged the government to withdraw it.

The association also appealed to lawmakers to reject the ordinance in parliament.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, PMA Secretary General Dr Qaisar Sajjad said the health circle was disappointed with the ordinance.

If passed by parliament, the ordinance will damage council, medical education and health delivery system, PMA secretary general says

“As per ordinance promulgated by the president, there will be 17 members of the PMDC to be nominated by the prime minister, provinces, armed forces and the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. This would damage the council, medical education and the health system of the country.”

He said the ordinance was a clear violation of the PMDC Ordinance 1962 and “we were not expecting an undemocratic step by the democratic government.”

The PMDC Ordinance 1962 suggested that the composition of the council would include some nominations and the rest of the members would be elected by doctors so that it could be a representative regulatory body, he said.

Dr Sajjad said the PMA had always supported steps to make the council an independent, democratic, strong and transparent department.

PMA President Dr Ikram Ahmed Tunio said the government should learn a lesson from the past and stop interfering in the affairs of the council.

Former president Dr Ashraf Nizami said civil society and literary figures should also raise voice against the ordinance.

“The PMA wants an election as per the constitution of the PMDC and demands to run the council in a democratic view.”

He said the PMA had written letters to the president and the prime minister requesting them to withdraw the ordinance in the interest of the medical education and the health delivery system of the country.

“We have also written letters to the leadership of political parties having representation in parliament not to pass this unconstitutional ordinance from the parliament,” Dr Nizami said.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2019