PMDC bans registration of new medical & dental colleges

ISLAMABAD: In a recent development, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has decided to halt the registration of new medical and dental colleges following the government’s guidelines.

As a result, no new applications for registration will be considered, except for the 13 submitted before January 5, which are currently under review.

The primary reason for imposing this ban is the shortage of faculty members in medical colleges. Currently, Pakistan has 121 private and 66 public medical and dental colleges, putting a strain on the existing faculty.

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has taken steps to address this issue, including a recent ban on the collection of fees by private medical and dental colleges.

Last month, the PMDC sent a notice to private institutions, directing them to stop collecting fees following a recommendation by the Senate Committee.

The Council has sent notices to institutions to avoid collection of fees based on the recommendations made by the Senate Committee. The Health Sub-Committee of the Senate had been advised to suspend fee collection.

The committee decorates the status and issues encapsulated in the private medical universities and medical colleges. Sources also claimed that over the last five years, private medical colleges have charged fees exceeding Rs15 million.

This ban will remain in place until the Medical Education Committee, headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, submits its recommendations. The committee is evaluating the standards and issues faced by private medical universities and colleges, which have been collecting over Rs15 million in fees over the past five years.