LAHORE: The Punjab government has expanded the scope of administrative powers of the vice chancellors of the public sector medical universities by introducing changes to the varsities governance through the recently notified Public Sector Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, besides restoring the original names of the five medical colleges.

Promulgated by Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan under Article 128(1) of the Constitution and published in an extraordinary issue of The Punjab Gazette on Oct 20, the ordinance came into force immediately.

The varsities to be covered by the ordinance included King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU), Faisalabad Medical University (FMU) and Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU). The amendments also cover the University of Child Health Sciences, Lahore.

“Subject to the provision of this Act, the vice chancellor shall be the chief executive and academic officer of the University and shall exercise administrative control over the officers, teachers and other employees of the University, constituent college and hospital and ensure enforcement of the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations,” reads the ordinance, a copy of which is also available with Dawn.

The law also aims to hold varsity heads accountable for issues hindering quality healthcare at attached hospitals

A senior official, who remained part of the process of furnishing recommendations for the amendments, says that the ordinance clearly defines the role of the vice chancellors (VCs) by holding them responsible for the provision of standard healthcare to the patients in the attached hospitals.

In the past, he says, the VCs of these universities used to ‘shrug their shoulders’ citing the academic, clinical and research activities, which they considered their prime duties, whenever the higher authorities would seek explanation for the sorry state of affairs at the teaching hospitals.

He says that last year when the health secretary had questioned the then VCs of the FJMU and the FMU with regard to provision of quality healthcare in the attached hospitals, they claimed that they had nothing to do with the patient care management.

Following the situation, the health authorities had taken up the matter with the concerned quarters, seeking introduction of the amendments to medical universities Acts so that the VCs could be held accountable for provision of quality healthcare to the patients.

The official says the ordinance has also provided for the restoration of King Edward Medical College, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Faisalabad Medical College, Rawalpindi Medical College and Nishtar Medical College, Multan, as constituent colleges of their respective universities under their original names.

Additionally, he says, the ordinance has revised the composition of specified university governance and financial bodies, including the representation by officials from the law and parliamentary affairs department and the finance department in these entities.

The amendments could improve coordination, clarify administrative responsibilities and strengthen oversight of public funds, he adds.

However, the official says, the expansion of VCs powers and increased government representation has raised questions about institutional autonomy and accountability.

“The greater executive authority may accelerate decision making, but effective checks and balances will remain essential to prevent excessive centralisation,” he says.

Citing past violations in this regard, he says the specialised healthcare department has been unable to implement its own compulsory condition of barring VCs from doing private practice despite the fact that they (VCs) had furnished affidavits to follow the condition before their appointment.

Similarly, he says, the government representation can support financial transparency, provided it does not undermine merit-based appointments or independent academic decision-making.

A former leader of Punjab Young Doctors Association (YDA) and representative of south Punjab medical forum, Dr Mian Adnan, says that governance restructuring alone cannot guarantee improvement in medical education or healthcare. “Its success should be assessed against transparent financial management, faculty development, research standards, clinical training and patient care,” he says, adding that the central challenge is to strengthen accountability without compromising academic independence.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026