KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association [PMA] on Tuesday expressed its concern over the recent recommendations furnished by the high-powered panel of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) vis-à-vis fresh admissions for 2017-2018, warning that the recommendations could only benefit and empower private medical colleges.

`This is in contrast to the PMDC Regulations 2016 for admissions to MBBS and BDS,` said Dr S. M.

Qaisar Sajjad, secretary general of the PMA, in a policy statement.

`The federal government and the Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAMI) have influenced the PMDC to make such unique recommendations,` claimed the PMA official.

According to those recommendations, tuition fee will be increased from Rs642,000 to Rs800,000.

`The board has recommended that the candidates will have to deposit fee for five-year programme in the form of post-dated cheques,which is so far unmatched rule in the history of medical education, said Dr Sajjad.

The PMA maintained those recommendations `will empower private medical and dental colleges to supervise themselves in the admission process in their respective institutes.

The PMA appreciated the decision taken by the two bodies, according to which, private medical colleges would announce their admissions after the completion of admission process in public-sector me dical colleges. However, Dr Sajjad mentioned a private medical university, which, in violation of that decision, had recently announced for admissions in it.

`It seems the federal government is running the affairs of the PMDC; thus, the council itself has proved that it has turned into a toothless body.

He demanded that only PMDC should monitor and regulate medical education in the country.

`The PMDC should be made independen.`-Staff Reporter