LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered action against a private medical college in a case of dishonesty and fraud in MBBS admission, Dawn learnt on Friday.

The action was proposed through the chief secretary, who directed Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Saqib Zafar to initiate proceedings against Amna Inayat Medical College (AIMC) under law.

“The action taken may be communicated to this office through its website within the stipulated time,” reads a letter issued by the chief secretary. A copy of the documents is available with Dawn.

UHS issues disaffiliation notice to Amna Inayat Medical College

The college was facing multiple serious allegations of charging hefty fees from students besides many other issues in its affairs. Consequently, a team of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) paid a surprise visit to the college a week ago, an official said.

He said the visiting team seized admission records and other relevant documents besides recording statements of the students, who took the college management to task.

UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Javed Akram confirmed to Dawn that the college had long been under discussion in the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and UHS following multiple complaints.

“The UHS has issued a de-affiliation notice to Amna Inayat Medical College Lahore on multiple charges levelled against the administration by the students as well as their parents,” Prof Akram added.

In the fresh case, according to documents, action was ordered against AIMC when the father of Moosa Abdul Raqib, a student, apprised the CM that his son has developed a physiological disorder after the college defrauded him.

Retired Maj Dr Abdur Raqib said the AIMC admitted his son in MBBS first year for the session 2016-17 against a “donation” of Rs2 million in addition to Rs500,000 as tuition fee. He said his son submitted the National Testing Service (NTS) result from National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Sindh.

At the time of admission, owner of the college, Murtaza Cheema, affirmed that the UHS accepted the NTS from NUMS and asked him to deposit the fee and the donation, assuring him that his son would be eligible to sit the medical exam.

“My brilliant son studied there for a year and in his internal exam secured the top position,” Mr Raqib said.

Later, the UHS refused registration of his son on the plea that the NTS test from NUMS was not acceptable. Consequently, his son’s admission was cancelled and two years of his life wasted.

Upon approaching the owner of the college, he refused to refund the donation amount on the pretext that the student had studied there for a year.

“I am also going through deep mental stress,” Mr Raqib said, adding that his son was under treatment for physiological issues, demanding exemplary action against the college for defrauding the student.

Health Special Secretary Shakeel Ahmed said the department has referred the case to the UHS for action. “Since the UHS deals with the affairs of medical colleges, the health department has forwarded the same to the varsity for further action,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2019