ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday celebrated its accreditation by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).
The accreditation has made Pakistani graduates eligible to pursue training and practice in other countries that require WFME recognition such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal was chief guest at the ceremony which was also attended by WFME President Prof Ricardo León-Bórquez.
The accreditation ceremony brought together medical professionals, council members, deans, vice chancellors of medical colleges and other stakeholders to acknowledge the institution’s achievement.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal said, “This accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of PMDC.
?Secretary health shows concerns over difficulties of Pakistani students abroad
It affirms their commitment to providing a world class medical education that prepares our graduates to excel in their careers and make a positive impact on healthcare.”
The WFME president congratulated PMDC and emphasised the importance of quality medical education, stating, “Accreditation by WFME signifies that medical schools should meet the highest international standards in medical education.
It is a recognition commitment to excellence and a contribution to the global medical community.”
PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj said that WFME accreditation was a significant milestone for Pakistani institutes, positioning it among the top institutions in the field of medical education.
“This achievement not only boosts the institution’s reputation but also instills confidence in current and prospective students, faculty and stakeholders,” he said.
Secretary Health Iftikhar Ali Shallwani said it was a joint effort of the ministry and the PMDC to achieve the milestone which held an important value in the medical field.
Those who were presented with plaques and certificates included Surgeon General Lt Gen Dr Mohsin M. Qureshi, former health minister Dr Nadeem Jan, Mr Shallwani, Farzand Ali, Dr Mahmud Aurangzeb, Prof Dr Mohammad Shoaib Shafi, Prof Dr Zahid Aman, Dr Naveed Yousaf, Prof Dr Mahwish Arooj, Prof Dr Fahad Azam, Dr Usman Mehmood, Prof Dr. Mohammad Amir, Prof Dr Mohammad Iqbal Khan, Prof Brig Dr Abdul Samad, Prof Brig Dr.
Amina Nadeem, Dr Fareeha Farooqui, Dr Riffat Shafi, Dr Adil Haider, Dr Mohammad Suleman Sadiq Hashmi, Dr Imdad Khusk, Hina Shaukat and Jamil Bhutta.
Earlier, according to a statement, the president WFME met the secretary health and the president PMDC to discuss challenges faced by Pakistani medical students studying abroad.
The meeting, which was also attended by consultant PMDC on international coordination Mr Farzand, focused on various aspects concerning the quality of medical education, recognition of Pakistani students qualified from foreign medical institutions and the welfare of Pakistani medical students pursuing education overseas.
One of the key issues discussed was the recognition of Pakistani students studying in foreign medical institutions, particularly those that are not accredited by recognised accreditation agencies.
The WFME president explained that their organisation’s directory of medical institutions currently provides information on the total number of institutions in a country regardless of their recognition status.
He said that efforts were underway to enhance the directory by including specific accreditation details of medical institutions from recognised agencies.
Furthermore, a proposal was put forward to establish a forum comprising international accreditation agencies. The forum would meet regularly to address and resolve the recognition challenges encountered by Pakistani medical students abroad.
Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2024
