KARACHI, Oct 30: Discrepancies between the regulations, rules and role of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and universities have once again surfaced, as the dental graduates of Fatima Jinnah Dental College, who have been awarded degrees by the University of Karachi, were being denied registration by the PMDC.

The affected student who had applied for PMDC registration after their graduation said they had received a letter from the council informing them that the PMDC registered only those graduates who were already registered with it as dental students.

The letter written on behalf of PMDC Secretary Dr Sohail Karim Hashmi maintained that the applicant fresh graduates were those who were over-admitted by their dental school and hence could not be registered as practitioners.

These over-admissions were further cited to be in violation of an undertaking by the college through a letter, dated June 25, 2005, affirming that it would not grant admissions more than the approved seats in future.

PMDC authorities claimed that since Fatima Jinnah Dental College withdrew the undertaking on Jan 28 this year and since the basis on which the graduates were granted students’ registration had also been withdrawn the students’ registration with PMDC stood immediately cancelled.

Lacunae existent in the procedure granting permissions for opening of medical and dental colleges in private sector, coupled with lack of coordination among concerned registration as well as educational bodies is fast emerging as a cause of constant nuisance for students.—APP