KARACHI, Sept 6: There is an urgent need to restructure the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on the pattern of the medical councils of England and India, so that it can play its role of ensuring the best medical education, monitoring medical practice and safeguarding patients’ interests.

These views were expressed by Prof Dr Shershah Syed, Prof Dr Idrees Edhi of Dow University, Dr Aziz Khan Tank, Secretary General, College of Family Medicine, while announcing their support to Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi for the seat of PMDC member from Sindh. Elections are scheduled for Sept 10.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, they said that there was a need to reform the PMDC and to eliminate government-nominated members, who were more interested in providing cover to unethical practices by doctors rather than enforcing ethical practice by doctors.

They said that at present, doctors employed by the government paid less attention to their patients and concentrated more on private practice.

The PMDC, they alleged, had failed to take action against such doctors found guilty of negligence on duty.