ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has for the first time referred a corruption case against a college to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Moreover, the council has decided to register Sahara Medical College, Narowal (SMCN) despite concerns raised by the members of the council that the attached hospital of the college lacked requisite number of beds.
The PMDC president, Dr Shabbir Lehri, said that during preliminary investigation it came to the surface that Amna Inayat Medical College Lahore (AIMCL) had been receiving donations from students. With regard to SMCN, he said the attached hospital had beds but it lacked bed occupancy so it was allowed to start admissions.
An official of the council requesting anonymity said during the council meeting held last week, it was decided to send a case of corruption against the AIMCL because it was found involved in receiving donations from the students.
“Moreover, it was decided that the college cannot give admissions in future because it lacked required minimum facilities,” he said.
A Narowal medical college gets registration
“The issue of the SMCN was also discussed during the meeting. Some members were not in favour of giving registration to the college because its attached hospital does not have required 500 beds,” he said.
“Members had reservation because a bench of Supreme Court headed by Justice Saqib Nisar has been hearing a case about the deficiencies in the medical colleges. Moreover court has grilled the council many a time over registering colleges which lacked facilities,” he said.
“So some members were not in favour of the registration. Finally it was decided to allow the college to give admission to students,” he said.
Dr Lehri while talking to Dawn said the council had received a number of applications by the students that the college forced them to pay donations.
“After that we sent a team, headed by Maj-Gen Dr Abdul Khaliq Naveed, to AIMCL with directions to conduct an inquiry. Dr Naveed held interview of a number of students who admitted that the management of college received Rs1.8 million to Rs2 million from them for admissions,” he said.
“After getting the report we decided to refer the case to FIA because it was nothing but a matter of corruption. Moreover, as the college was deficient in different facilities such as faculty members, infrastructure, etc., so it was decided to ban admissions in the college,” he said.
While replying to a question about SMCN Dr Lehri said though, during inspection, there were 60 per cent (300) bed occupancy but we gave a benefit of doubt to the college because some times less number of patients come in the hospitals in the month of Ramazan.
“I am sure that the college will ensure 500 beds in the attached hospital. Moreover, the college obtained over 750 out of 1,000 points. As minimum qualifying marks are 750 for the colleges so we decided that the colleges should be allowed to admit 100 medical students every year,” he said.
Principal of AIMCL Prof Zafar Ali Chaudhry while talking to Dawn denied that any student was forced to pay the donation. “
The PMDC was not willing to do inspection of the college due to which we contacted Islamabad High Court and inspection was held on the court orders. During inspection we were informed that the score of the college was over 750 points and it will be registered with the PMDC,” he said.
“I just want to say that we have our own building, our own hospital and we have more faculty members as compared to other colleges of Pakistan. PMDC should recognise us because we meet all the requirements. On the other hand those who don’t have own buildings are running medical colleges,” he said.
Replying to a question he said: “So far we have not received any written correspondence from the PMDC about the case referred to FIA but it is a fact that I have never forced any student to pay donation,” he said.
Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2016
