FAISALABAD: The Pakistan Medical Association has announced to stage protest demonstrations in all districts of the province against the National Licencing Examination (NLE) declared a must for medical students by the Pakistan Medical Council (PMC).

The decision was taken at a meeting of the PMA held with its president Dr Tanveer Anwar in the chair at the Allied Hospital here on Sunday. Doctors from different districts attended the meeting and shared their views on the issue.

All the graduates who are currently doing house job or ready for it must have to clear the NLE exam for their permanent registration. Both MBBS and BDS students must have to clear the NLE for their permanent job and medical practice in Pakistan.

The PMA office-bearers said the meeting unanimously rejected the PMC decision to hold the NLE, saying it had “darkened the future of medics” by announcing the exam.

Announcing boycott of the NLE, they said it had been decided that all the district chapters of the PMA would stage protest demonstrations outside the respective press clubs on coming Wednesday against the PMC decision.

The office bearers would also hold a press conferences and apprise the media of the “negative” impact of the NLE on medical students.

They also announced that cooperation would not be extended to the Punjab Healthcare Commission by the PMA till the issues was resolved.

The PMA office bearers also demanded suspension of the Sheikhupura deputy commissioner, who, according to them, misused his authority by surrendering the services of the CEO Health to the Punjab government.

They asked the Punjab government to reappointment the CEO health.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2021