The new members of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) were notified by the ministry of health services, regulations and coordination on Tuesday.
They were notified “in exercise of the powers conferred by Section-3 of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Act, 2022, on the recommendations of the Search and Nomination Committee, and with the approval of the prime minister.”
They have been appointed for a period of four years in terms of Section-7 (1) of PM&DC Act, 2022.
The new members include medical practitioners Prof Amjad Siraj Memon, Prof Rizwan Taj, Muhammad Zubair Khan, Dr Mahmud Aurangzeb and dentist Prof Dr Tehmina Asad.
Dr Tehmina belongs to Pishin, Balochistan and is the first female doctor to be appointed to the council from the province.
Jawad Amin Khan has been appointed as the council's philanthropist, Chaudhry Sultan Mansoor as its lawyer, and Noorul Haque as its chartered accountant.
The ministry’s spokesperson said the appointments were made on merit, with over 70 candidates participating in the interviews.
He added that the head of the search and nomination committee was Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel.
Quoting Patel, the spokesperson said there would be improvement in the field of medical education with the new PMDC members notified.
The federal minister further said all issues related to medical education should be resolved on a priority basis.
Patel added that the process of reforms in the health sector was under way at a rapid pace.
Also read: Change is in the air at restored PMDC
In January this year, President Dr Arif Alvi had given his assent to the PMDC Bill 2022 after its passage by parliament.
The president signed the bill exercising his powers under Article 75 of the Constitution, a Presidency statement said.
In October 2022, the Senate passed the PMDC (Amendment) Bill but after inserting dozens of amendments into it already passed by the National Assembly.
The bill was moved by PPP legislator Jam Abdul Karim.
Earlier, during the long debate on the bill, opposition members alleged that the legislation was meant to create a lot of incompetent medical professionals and serve the vested interests of a mafia.
Leader of Opposition Dr Shahzad Waseem of PTI objected to the “long list" of new amendments, suggesting the bill should be sent to the committee again.
However, the treasury benches stressed upon the urgency to have the bill passed saying it was about the future of medical students.
Read the full story at the express tribune website.
