ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has issued its performance report for the past 15 months, claiming that it took several initiatives to bring reforms to the medical education sector in line with international practices.

After its formation in April 2023 under the PMDC Act 2022, the PMDC has held 55 meetings of the PMDC Council, the National Medical and Dental Academic Board, and various committees. In a short span of 15 months, the council has achieved the long-awaited accreditation of the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) for 10 years, a statement issued by the council said, adding that the PMDC also reviewed and revised its standards of minimum basic and higher medical/dental education in Pakistan.

“This achievement is a significant milestone in the country’s medical education as it shall enable our graduates to practice around the world,” it claimed.

According to the statement, the PMDC led by President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj along with the National Medical and Dental Academic Board has framed, prescribed and notified the ‘Registration Regulations 2023’; ‘Accreditation Standards for Medical College 2024’; ‘Accreditation Standards for Teaching Hospitals for Medical Education, 2024’; ‘Accreditation Standards for Postgraduate Medical/Dental Education 2023’; ‘Accreditation Standards and Inspection Proforma for Dental Colleges 2024’; ‘Competencies Required of a Medical Graduate and House Officer 2024’; ‘Competencies Required of a Dental Graduate and House Officer 2024; and ‘MBBS Curricular Guidelines 2024’.

Council claims held 55 meetings since April 2023, says WFME accreditation feather in the cap

“The accreditation standards are aimed to produce healthcare practitioners to not just meet the contemporary requirements but also to enable our graduates to compete at international level,” it said, adding that the standards are patient-centric and focused on the evolving need of allied specialities.

“The standards include a mandatory requirement of a research cell/department to engage students in research at primary level; skills lab for the students to acquire meaningful skills and faculty development programme to encourage institutions to develop [the] capacity of their faculty. In line with the best international practices, a Department of Family Medicine has been introduced as a quality standard,” it stated.

The statement said that it formulated comprehensive curricular guidelines effective from this year to provide “competence-based clinical skills education” to cater to the health needs of citizens. It added that subjects like ethics and research, arts and humanities, communication skills, leadership and professionalism had been introduced in these guidelines to ensure that the doctors/dentists produced in Pakistan were equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills.

According to the statement, other key initiatives taken by Prof Dr Rizwan Taj since assuming responsibilities as the council president include setting up a Department of Medical Education in the PMDC; collaboration with international health accreditation and testing authorities/agencies, like the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities, USA; American Council for Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education; General Medical Council, UK; Federation of State Medical Boards, USA; and Association of Physicians of Pakistan Descent of North America, USA etc.

The statement also claimed that it revamped the existing online portals (based on a first come and first serve basis to maintain transparency) and set up criteria for registration of Pakistani students seeking admissions in foreign institutions to ensure only graduates with quality education are able to practice in Pakistan after having duly qualified the National Registration Examination of the PMDC.

“PMDC also devised a structured framework…to enable general practitioners, specialists and teachers to undergo training to remain informed about advancements, new treatments/techniques and best practices evolving around the globe,” it said, adding that the MDCAT syllabus was revised to be applied uniformly across the country for the National MDCAT.

Furthermore, it undertook the structured training of inspectors, periodic review of standards/guidelines and periodic assessment/evaluation of institutions across the country. Similarly, the council also claimed to have done the capacity building of existing human resources in the organisation and creation of new departments, such as quality assurance, and aligning the system of medical education in Pakistan with the American system of medical education.

The statement claimed that the PMDC was further focused on producing quality family physicians and encouraging preventive health for the community at the primary healthcare level.

“To this effect, the PMDC shall devise a structured training for family physicians to encourage community services and encourage institutions to engage their students to provide community services at nearby basic health units and outreach centres…”

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2024