LAHORE: A joint meeting organised by a consortium of medical organisations has raised serious concerns over alleged violation of the criteria for the appointment of doctors against administrative positions and the recent attempt to increase the age limit for the selection of vice-chancellors of the medical universities in Punjab.

The consortium comprising senior representatives of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), General Cadre Doctors Association (GCDA), Pakistan Society of Family Physicians (PSFP) and other medical organisations held detailed deliberations on the issue and came up with a unanimous decision to prepare a set of recommendations in this respect.

According to a statement issued here on Sunday, the consortium said the violation of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) rules by the Punjab government will deprive senior doctors of their right and destroy merit.

“All medical organisations are united for the honour and respect of the medical profession; no negligence will be tolerated in this regard, we are ready to start a departmental as well as legal battle for the betterment of the doctor’s community,” reads a joint statement.

GCDA president Dr Masood Sheikh said the doctors’ appointment being made from other cadres against senior administrative positions of the general cadre is against the law. Even seniority is not being taken into account while making the appointments, which is causing concern among senior doctors, he added.

“The establishment of an administrative cadre is the only solution to such problems,” Dr Sheikh said.

PMA central president Dr Izhar Chaudhry said the provincial government’s wrong policies have gradually tarnished the doctors’ image.

He stressed upon the government to uphold the merit and transparency in making the appointment of the vice chancellors of the public sector medical universities, instead of accommodating “favorite individuals.”

PSFP president Dr Tariq Mian also strongly criticised the Punjab Healthcare Commission’s poicies, saying it has put the health delivery system at risk by targeting the practicing doctors and healthcare facilities.

Dr Mian said a delegation representing the medical organisations should be formed to meet the PHC chairman and find solutions to the problems. “If the abuse of doctors is not stopped, the healthcare system will become more pathetic,” he said.

Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) central Punjab president Prof Dr Muhammad Humayun said the alarming increase in incidents of mental and physical violence against

doctors is causing a growing concern among the medical community. As doctors now consider themselves extremely insecure, therefore, a comprehensive strategy is necessary in this regrad, he added.

Dr Javed Mumtaz said doctors and postgraduate trainees are being financially exploited by private medical colleges and hospitals, and this practice must be discouraged to stop capable doctors from leaving the country.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026