ISLAMABAD: Alarm bells are ringing over the functioning of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), with internal documents and correspondence revealing a disturbing pattern of alleged irregularities, biased decision-making, and potential power misuse in the inspection, recognition, and admission processes of medical and dental colleges nationwide.

However, PMDC Registrar Dr Rehan Naqvi, while talking to Dawn, said the allegations were being made as notifications of some medical and dental colleges were pending with the government.

According to available record, at least 15 medical and dental colleges were provisionally recognised in 2019-20. In 2023, inspections of only a limited number of these institutions were carried out, while the remaining cases were referred to the ministry and subsequently to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

However, it is learnt that the interim and final FIA reports were never placed before the Council nor made public, giving rise to serious concerns about transparency.

Registrar says allegations are being made as notifications of some private medical colleges pending with govt

Even after the PMDC’s executive committee decided in November 2024 that the remaining institutions would be inspected after completion of codal formalities, several colleges are still left in uncertainty, while some appear to be moving forward without clear justification.

The documents further reveal that some colleges continue to admit students without the issuance of mandatory recognition notification under Section 21 of the PMDC Act.

According to officials, familiar with the matter, these alleged irregularities were well within the knowledge of the inspection department and the registrar office.

“Instead of initiating transparent inquiries to fix responsibility, attempts were made to quietly remove names of certain colleges from official lists. Such actions, rather than resolving the problem, have only deepened concerns about governance, accountability and possible attempts to cover up regulatory failures,” the officials said.

Further questions have arisen after a letter written in July 2025 by the vice-chancellor of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) to the PMDC president highlighting unusual and troubling conduct of the Council’s own legal representation in court cases relating to admissions to private colleges.

According to the VC’s letter, available with Dawn, statements made on behalf of PMDC in court created serious difficulties for public sector institutions, effectively benefiting certain private colleges.

In another case that has drawn widespread attention, a medical college was reportedly allowed to register 150 students and was removed from the ‘stop intake’ list despite the fact that no fresh inspection had been conducted under the PMDC Act 2023. The documents indicate that the decision was taken on the written directions from PMDC.

“The most disturbing aspect of this entire situation is the silence of the Ministry of National Health Services. Why has the ministry closed its eyes to such massive and repeated illegalities, and why is the future of thousands of students being placed at risk for the apparent benefit of a few private interests? This continued inaction and indifference is fast turning a regulatory failure into a full-blown national crisis in medical education,” said an official of PMDC on condition of anonymity.

When contacted for comments, PMDC Registrar Dr Rehan Naqvi confirmed to Dawn that there was an issue of 15 medical colleges which were provisionally recognised.

“However, some of the colleges have got them cleared and others have obtained stay orders from the courts. There are just a few colleges which have been functioning without licences. Fact is that their notifications are pending as, according to new rules, now notifications are issued by the federal government after getting nod of the federal cabinet,” he said.

Dr Naqvi said there were some colleges which had admitted students for the last one year and some for the last two and even three years without having licences. However, he hoped that the issue would be addressed soon.

According to Health Ministry Spokesperson Sajid Shah, PMDC is an independent regulatory body.

“The ministry usually doesn’t interfere in its functioning, unless some concerning issue comes in the knowledge or formal complaint is lodged,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2026