ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has directed medical and dental institutions/universities not to offer unrecognised postgraduate programmes.

In a letter, all medical and dental institutions have been directed to register themselves with PMDC under section 25 of Council Act for offering postgraduate programmes.

According to a statement, on the directions of the council the PMDC registrar has strictly refrained all the colleges and universities from advertising or offering any unrecognised postgraduate medical and dental programmes.

In case of non-compliance with the intimation, PMDC will initiate disciplinary proceedings under section 35(i) of PMDC Act 2022.

Section 35 states that whoever runs or establishes or endorses any institution or advertises admissions in an institution for imparting education in medicine or dentistry, which is not recognized, shall be guilty of an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, but shall not be less than a year, or with fine which may extend to Rs20 million, but shall not be less than Rs10 million, or with both and shall also be liable to closure of such institution.

The PMDC registrar has further stated that all medical and dental practitioners intending to acquire postgraduate medical or dental qualifications in Pakistan were informed to take admissions in PMDC recognised postgraduate programmes only.

“It is categorically informed that PMDC shall register only those PG qualifications which are duly inspected and recognised by the Council and are included in the 2 schedule of PMDC Act 2022. Council has set standards of excellence and continues to work towards implementing them in every medical and dental institute across Pakistan for both undergraduate and postgraduate education,” he said.

“PMDC will continue working towards the targets the Council have set to raise the standard of medical and dental education and licensing in Pakistan while continuing to discipline individuals and organizations who do not meet the benchmarks of excellence set by PMDC. List of Recognized post graduate qualifications and degree awarding institutions are already available on PMDC website,” it stated.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2023