KARACHI: The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has raised serious concerns regarding the chaotic state of admissions in medical colleges and the alarming mismanagement witnessed during the recent MDCAT examination.
PIMA has urgently called upon the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC), relevant provincial health departments, and universities to establish a uniform and transparent central admission policy that addresses the ongoing turmoil.
Furthermore, PIMA has emphatically stressed the immediate necessity to eliminate ambiguous and financially burdensome admission policies that are currently causing distress among aspiring medical students.
The paramount priority, according to PIMA, should be to guarantee the absolute transparency of the entrance examination process. There are growing suspicions that the PMDC might be prioritizing the interests of private medical colleges over the welfare of students.
Dr. Abdul Aziz Memon, President of PIMA, voiced his disappointment with the PMDC's repeated failures in ensuring a timely and efficient admission process. He highlighted that students aspiring to enter medical colleges, along with their parents, are the most affected parties in this chaotic scenario. Their rights are seemingly overlooked, leaving them in a state of uncertainty.
The recent controversies surrounding the MDCAT examination, including paper leaks and widespread cheating, have cast a dark shadow over the competence of the institutions responsible for overseeing these vital assessments. Dr. Memon questioned the caliber of medical professionals that Pakistan would produce if such incidents persist.
He also drew attention to the disturbing prevalence of complaints related to nepotism and the use of financial influence, especially within private institutions. This has further eroded trust in the admissions process.
Dr. Memon urged the PMDC to collaborate with pertinent institutions and formulate a comprehensive central policy that guarantees transparency at every stage of the admission process, whether for MBBS or BDS programs, in both public and private medical and dental colleges.
Furthermore, he stressed the crucial role of the government in devising and enforcing a uniform and transparent policy for admissions to medical and dental colleges, ensuring that it is diligently implemented to bring an end to the current chaos and uncertainty surrounding this critical issue.
