RAWALPINDI: Young Doctors Association (YDA) Rawalpindi Chapter and medical students of Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) on Tuesday staged a protest against national licensing exam and demanded the government to withdraw it.

More than 200 students and doctors gathered at Holy Family Hospital and brought out rally on the premises. The students and young doctors were carrying placards inscribed with their demands.

“We will stand firm against national licensing examand the government will get back their decision,” said YDA Holy Family Hospital President Dr Malik Shehryar. He said they were against the cruel policies of PMC. “It is the responsibility of the government to improve the standard of education and without improving the standard of education there is no point of taking an extra exam and adding to the never ending tally of exams,” he said.

He said that they won’t allow our juniors to suffer at the hands of PMC.

“National licensing examis a black rule and it cannot be imposed on the old batches at least,” he said and added that they will continue to protest till our demands are met.

“We have passed five years of annual hectic prof exams under the supervision of medical institutions, why do we need to appear for national licensing exam?”, the protesters asked.

Students say that upon admission to medical universities they had submitted an affidavit on stamped paper to abide by the rules of the PMDC, and questioned how a new policy by the commission could be implemented on older batches.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2021