PESHAWAR: The health department is likely to seek an amendment to Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, 2015 to make way for the appointment of female dean of Khyber Girls Medical College in the fulfillment of the government`s directives.

`We would be holding a meeting to see the letter sent by the chief minister regarding appointment of female dean of KGMC. It would require an amendment to MTIRA, 2015,` SahibzadaMohammad Saeed, the chairman of Board of Governors of Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), told Dawn.

KGMC is constituent college of HMC. A week ago, the provincial government had asked the health department to make sure that a female dean was appointed at KGMC in line with the provincial assembly`s resolution.

The resolution had sought appointment of a woman as head of the only medical college for girls in the province.

`According to the existing law, there is no room for a woman dean of the college due to which a male professor is dean of the college.

It would be made possible through an amendment, which can be done only by the govern-ment through assembly,` said Mr Saeed.

He said that a meeting of BoG would be held shortly wherein the matter would be taken up for discussion and probably they would be suggesting amendment to the law.

`In the appointment of the present dean, who is a senior-most male professor, we have followed legal procedure as per the law, said Mr Saeed.

He added that the process could be reversed only by virtue of an amendment to the law, which in its present form had no provision for a female professor as dean of the college.

Through the notincation, issued to health department and subsequently to the BoG chairman, the chief minister haddirected to approve appointment of a female dean of KGMC, to enable the girl students to prove their capabilities effectively.

It pointed out that for the purpose, a second post of dean might be created, especially for KGMC, in line with MTIRA, 2015, on the pattern of Khyber Teaching Hospital, which had two deans -one for Khyber Medical College and another for Khyber College of Dentistry, its constituent colleges.

Additionally, KGMC being a medical teaching institution if doesn`t allow for the same, approval may be accorded through amendment to the law for two deans, with one of them must be female, according to the notification, citing the provincial assembly`s resolution of June 15in this regard.

It has quoted the resolution, saying KGMC) is a medical college established only for girl students in 2004 while all other medical colleges in the province have co-education. Its establishment was based on the cultural and convendonal background of the province so that girl students can make use of their abilities in medical profession to the full.

The resolution sought appointment of a female professor as head of KGMC to facilitate the girl students to perform without any hindrance. The resolution was passed unanimously.

`We would be discussing the notification and would seek approval of the BoG`s members for an amendment to the law, said Mr Saeed.