ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: The Senate Standing Committee on Health has directed the health ministry to take necessary action to ensure high standard of medical education and uphold registration of private medical college students with the PMDC. The committee which met here on Thursday with Senator Roshan Khurshid Bharucha in the chair made this observation while discussing the issue of registration of doctors of private medical institutions by the PMDC.

The committee members were unanimous in their view that the health ministry should ensure compliance of the recommendations issued to the PMDC during its meeting on May 14 pertaining to the registration of Baqai Medical College students, and directed the ministry to report to the committee within four weeks.

Referring to the Ordinance of 1962, the members were of the view that the health ministry had ample powers to recognize the qualifications granted by medical institutions in Pakistan.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan informed the committee that the basic objective of allowing the establishment of private medical institutions was to improve standard of medical education in the country.

He said the health ministry was constantly in touch with the PMDC since the issue of non-registration of medical graduates by the PMDC was raised on the floor of the house and was making all out efforts to solve the issue amicably to save the future of several hundred students.

The committee noted with regret that the PMDC authorities were reluctant to register medical graduates of private medical institutions despite the fact that the PMDC had categorically assured the committee to give registration to students of private medical institutions who met the criteria.

The committee decided to seek a report from the PMDC regarding fulfilment of its commitment in this regard.

The meeting was also attended by Senator Kausar Firdaus, Dr Nighat Agha, Razina Alam Khan, Dr Azizullah Satakzai, Mrs Sheren Noor, Kamil Agha (mover), Saadia Abbasi (mover) and Minister of Health Mohammad Nasir Khan.

The health secretary, Syed Anwar Mehmood and the director-general (health) were also present.