ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has initiated an inquiry into the death of a second-year BDS student at the Frontier Medical College Abbottabad.

There were allegations regarding failure to provide timely medical assistance to the student, Abuzar Ghafari, which reportedly led to his tragic passing at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad.

In a statement, PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj conveyed heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Ghafari, emphasising the irreplaceable loss of a young individual destined to contribute significantly to the medical field.

“The council has mandated that the college administration, including the Principal and Medical Superintendent, submit a comprehensive explanation regarding the incident in seven days.” The president expressed grave concern over the implications of the incident.

“Medical and dental students are the cream of our nation, and we must provide not only education but also the highest standards of care and timely assistance. This unfortunate incident raises serious questions about the health and safety protocols in place at the institution,” he stated.

“The PMDC has set a deadline for the college to provide a detailed report of the circumstances surrounding Mr Ghafari’s death along with any measures taken by the institution in response to the incident. Failure to comply with the directive may result in stringent action against the college under the PMDC Act 2022, and relevant rules and regulations.”

Furthermore, the president has instructed all medical and dental colleges across the country to review and amend their health and safety protocols to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

“It is our responsibility to safeguard the well-being of our students and uphold the integrity of medical education in Pakistan,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025