Punjab bans senior doctors from pursuing advanced medical training

LAHORE: In a recent development, the Punjab Specialized Healthcare Department has introduced new age limits for the postgraduate and fellowship medical education.

This effectively bars senior government-employed physicians from career progression. Under the newly released policy,  physicians above 40 years of age will be disqualified from undergoing postgraduate training, and those who are 45 and older will be disqualified from the second fellowship program.

This move is likely to affect senior physicians in public service, restricting their scope for career development despite their long exposure to practice.

Medical professionals and professional associations have condemned the age limit as discriminatory, with fears that this policy has the potential to erode staff morale and reduce access to highly qualified experts in state hospitals nationwide.