IN many ways, the strength of a nation’s healthcare system mirrors the strength of its medical education. In recent decades, the landscape of medical education has changed dramatically in the country. One of the most pressing concerns is the rapid increase in the number of medical colleges and universities, often without proper homework, detailed infrastructure and clinical training facilities.

This has led to a phenomenon of ‘super saturation’, where the number of graduates is continuously rising faster than the availability of quality training opportunities and meaningful employment.

Equally concerning is the decline in academic standards. In some institutions, admission criteria, annual assessment and teaching quality have weakened in sharp contrast to annual fee which has constantly been moving upwards. When education becomes a ‘business’, merit and excellence tend to take a back seat. This erosion of standards not only impacts individual health practitioners, but also undermines public trust in the medical profession at large in the country.

Addressing these challenges requires a balanced and systematic approach. Regulatory bodies must enforce strict accreditation standards, ensuring that institutions meet minimum requirements for faculty, facilities, standard medical education and clinical exposure.

Emphasis should shift from quantity to quality, producing fewer but better-trained doctors. Also, we need to modernise curricula, incorporate technology and enhance standards to produce capable, ethical and compassionate physicians who can meet the evolving needs of society, restoring the integrity of the profession.

Dr Sohaib Khan Shorahbel
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2026