ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) president, Dr Rizwan Taj, on Monday made it clear that no compromise would be made on the quality of medical education being provided to Pakistani students within the country, or abroad.

He was talking to a delegation from Republic of Kyrgyzstan, led by Minister of Science and Education D.Sh Kendirbaeva, which visited the PMDC to discuss promotion of medical education and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Kyrgyz Ambassador Avazbek Atakhanov, rectors, heads of Kyrgyz universities and representatives from the education sector were also part of the delegation.

The discussion revolved around the registration criteria for foreign medical graduates, admission standards for Pakistani students in foreign institutions and accreditation protocols for foreign medical colleges.

The PMDC president emphasised that Pakistan had made significant progress in the medical field. He noted that the country currently had 186 medical and dental colleges, producing healthcare professionals.

He further stated that over 365,000 doctors were registered with the PMDC, which was playing a crucial role in meeting the healthcare needs of the nation.

He said Pakistani graduates were respected across the globe.

“Only graduates from PMDC-recognised foreign institutions are eligible for provisional registration and can appear for the National Registration Examination (NRE). The graduates who successfully pass NRE steps I and II qualify for a full licence to practice medicine or dentistry in Pakistan,” Dr Rizwan Taj said.

According to a statement, while sharing admission criteria for Pakistani students seeking enrollment in foreign medical institutions, he said students must be admitted to a PMDC-recognised foreign institution and candidates must check the list and fulfill the criteria available on its website before proceeding abroad for their studies.

Regarding the accreditation of foreign medical institutions, Prof Dr Rizwan Taj explained that the PMDC had maintained a list of recognised foreign institutions on its official website.

“This list is provisional and subject to periodic review. PMDC has developed a new accreditation pro forma, requiring foreign institutions to meet the standards set by the national regulator, the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), and the PMDC criteria,” he said.

The PMDC president said Pakistan’s medical education system had earned global recognition for its high standards.

“Collaboration with Kyrgyzstan will provide an excellent opportunity for mutual growth and the advancement of medical education in both countries. However, no compromise will made on the quality of medical education within the country, or outside for the Pakistani students,” he added.

The Kyrgyz minister of science and education appreciated Pakistan’s contributions to the global medical fraternity and expressed keen interest in strengthening ties between the two countries in the field of medical education.

Both the sides also agreed to explore avenues for joint capacity-building measures to further enhance the quality of medical education.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2025