I S L A M A B A D : President Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Prof Dr Rizwan Taj claimed that a rigorous procedure was required for issuing teaching experience certificates as each certificate undergoes a meticulous, multi-step verification process including institutional verification.

`Certificates cannot be issued without clearance and confirmation from the institutions where the doctor has previously worked and the case assessment of each application is unique even a single day of work is critically evaluated through detailed calculations and evidence-based verification,` he said during a briefing given to Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath.

The briefing was given on the Council`s current operations and its future plans for functional improvements.`Applicants have to submit a range of publications from a minimum of five to over 89 articles that are thoroughly reviewed for authenticity. Over the past 11 months, PMDC has addressed a significant number of inquiries and emails from medical professionals. In addition to technological advancements, PMDC has improved communication strategies by updating its website with dedicated staff contact numbers and streamlined helplines to better serve the community,` Dr Taj said.

Dr Bharath also visited the PMDC IT department, where he examined the newly enhanced IT innovative initiatives and plans introduced to support PMDC`s operational efficiency. He was also apprised of the recently launched dedicated online portal designed to expedite the verification process and reduce the processing time for teaching experience certificates.

He outlined that PMDC may alert the institutesconcernedto complete the verification process promptly, ensuring a prompt and efficient evaluation of all cases. He also directed to take immediate action to dispose of pending applications.

Dr Bharath emphasised the need for swift resolution to clear the backlog and improve service delivery.

He added that an emergency digitisation of the PMDC inspection system should be done to enhance transparency, accuracy, and accountability in the council`s operations.

Reaffirming the government`s commitment to quality, he stated: `The government is determined to elevate the quality of medical education in Pakistan to meet international standards. We will ensure effective measures for the improvement of medical education.

He assured that the government will continue to work on new reforms in the health sector, promoting merit and transparency within the PMDC and beyond.