THIS refers to the editorial ‘MDCAT delay’ (Sept 10) which was most appropriate and extremely timely as the admission process to medical colleges is about to start. Postponing the medical and dental college admission test (MDCAT) indefinitely for medical colleges is short-sighted and totally unnecessary. Nations with living and healthy morale carry on the good work to maintain quality in every field of life, especially education. No matter what happens, life goes on. And it should. We must get up and start with a new vigour.

Medical education in Pakistan has deteriorated so much in the recent past that there is a warning from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) of derecognising Pakistani doctors in the United States and Europe from 2023. Instead of improving the quality of entrance test, we are postponing/cancelling it. This is like destroying medical education, I am afraid.

We should wake up from our deep slumber and act beyond petty politics on a war footing to improve our image by meeting the requirements outlined by the WFME if Pakistani doctors want to continue to compete internationally. Also, the national licensing examination (NLE) must be revived to satisfy the WFME, while MDCAT should be held as soon as possible to keep medical education on track.

Prof Serajuddaula Syed
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2022