ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has propose d a R s720 million budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year a 42pc increase compared to last year`s budget. The budget proposal will be approved automatically if none of the council members raise an objection within ten days.

A number of service charges and fees have been imposed in ordertoincrease revenue,but the council president Dr ShabbirLehri claimed the fees were introduced in order to undertake measures to better the health sector and the doctors community.

An official from the council said the 2015-16 budget was worth Rs420 million. `It was decided to generate funds by introducing a number of service charges. For example, in the past no charges were required for the first inspection of a medical college for registration. However, now it has been decided that Rs2 million will be charged for the inspection of a college for registration,` he said.

`In the past, every medical college also had to pay Rs200,000 in annual fees, as the PMDC from time to time holds inspections of already functional medical colleges. That fee will be increased to Rs500,000 per year for each medical college.

`During the meeting, it was alsodecided that degree awarding institutions (DAI) which want to remain affiliated with the PMDC will have to pay R s1 million annual affiliation fee,` he said.

However, the Rs1,000 registration fee for postgraduate students has now been waived.

In response to a question, the official said no one would raise objections because the fees will be used to improve the council.

He added that an online registration service will also be started, through which any doctor will be able to know in which section his files and documents are and if there were any objections to them.

`An SMS service will also be introduced to inform applicants that their applications have been received. They will be informed through an SMS if their case has been finalised and they can collect the registration certificate. Theywill also receive a tracking number for a courier service through an SMS, for their cases,` he said.

`In addition, a service will be provided under which any person will be able to verify a doctor`s status by sending the council an SMS.

The council`s regional offices are almost dysfunctional, so a total Rs40 million have been allocated for all four regional offices to make them functional,` he said.

`An information technology department which is almost nonfunctional will be established.

After the inspection of colleges, the opinion and flaws will be released online to make people aware. A web tracking system will be established to locate documents, and every applicant will receive a case number and password.

The official said 14 posts will be created for the IT department, and improved recordkeeping will alsobe ensured. He said arrangements for human resource development would also be made.

When asked, the official said there are currently 208 people employed by the council, and 93 seats are vacant.

`Arrangements will be made to fill the seats and create new seats according to the requirements.

The salary of the staff has been increased by 10pc,` he said.

Dr Lehri, the PMDC president, said that the budget was proposed and a number of steps have been suggested to ensure transparency in the council.

`In the past, people`s cases would be delayed for months or years, but now it will be a matter of days. The health community will definitely see an improvement in service delivery, and regional offices will be made functional, he said.