ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has announced the launch of the National Medical Scholarship Fund worth Rs360 million.

The step will create avenues for high merit students who cannot afford medical or dental education and open a path towards a medical or dental degree without any financial constraints.

President Dr Arif Alvi will be the Patron of the PMC National Medical Scholarship Fund.

PMC had earlier announced the PMC National Medical Scholarship Fund with an initial commitment of Rs250 million by the healthcare regulator.

The grant has grown from admission fees and other licensing fees to more than Rs361 million. The grant is expected to increase even further with the added influx of grants from both public and private sector institutions.

On the launch of the PMC National Medical Scholarship Fund, President PMC Dr Arshad Taqi said: “Since the inception of PMC, our priority has been merit, transparency and raising the standards of healthcare education in Pakistan. This is only possible if students are admitted into medical and dental colleges based on merit not on the basis of their financial standing. The PMC National Medical Scholarship Fund is the culmination of our vision to promote meritocracy and support applicants who are qualified for admission into a medical or dental programme.”

The grant of the scholarships and loans will be approved by four members of the Medical and Dental Council along with two external co-opted members for session 2022.

The decision of the scholarship committee will be considered final.

A trust with an independent board will be set up by January 2022 to manage the PMC National Scholarship Fund on a permanent basis.

The National Medical Scholarship Fund Regulations were uploaded on the PMC website on Nov 9 outlining the structure and disbursement of the fund. The application form for the PMC scholarship fund is now available on the PMC website.

The scholarship fund offers both scholarships and interest-free loans depending on the need of the candidate.

The last date for the submission of the form is Dec 4.

The selected candidates shall be issued a scholarship or loan confirmation certificate which they can present to the medical or dental college where they obtain admission, and the scholarship shall be paid directly to the college by PMC on tendering of the confirmation of admission by the college.

The launch of the PMC National Medical Scholarship Fund is in keeping with the regulator’s objective to ensuring the entry of students to medical or dental colleges on the basis of merit regardless of financial constraints.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021