MEDICAL students get admission to medical colleges after passing the entrance test conducted by the National Testing Service, as the creditability of the higher secondary marks sheet is not deemed acceptable.

Likewise, doctors who want to do post-graduation in various medical disciplines have to pass part one of Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS), which is a very competitive and tough examination conducted by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP), which is an organisation of international repute.

To get admission to postgraduate training for part two of FCPS in medical universities, candidates who have cleared part one, have to again sit a test organised by medical universities to get admission. Can the entrance test conducted by the universities be more reliable and transparent than FCPS-I examinations conducted by the CPSP?

Admission to FCPS-II is a longstanding issue and has been exploited in several ways. It involves gross injustice, nepotism and favouritism owing to which meritorious candidates are deprived of postgraduation. The most justified way is to prepare a merit list according to the date of passing of FCPS-I, and the candidates shall be given admission to postgraduate training according to merit and availability of seats in different disciplines every year.

Dr Fateh M. Khan
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2020