KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) recently discovered through various sources that the government is once again prepared to present a new bill in the Senate regarding the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), which will be inappropriate for medical education in the country.
Secretary-General, Pakistan Medical Association (Centre), Dr Qaisar Sajjad, before presenting the bill, said that all stakeholders must be taken on board so that a unanimously agreed upon bill could be presented. The PMA extends its help to the government for preparing a bill in the larger interest of medical education and health delivery systems in Pakistan.
He said that the PMA would not support any bill that harms medical education in Pakistan. We also request all the political parties to keep their eyes open and not let the government pass any controversial bills. Political parties should not support any such legislation that is against democratic norms and the PMDC Ordinance 1962.
Dr Qaisar Sajjad said that the PMA supports the Grand Health Alliance for its struggle against the MTI Act in Punjab, which is not beneficial to patients or medical professionals. According to sources, the Health Standing Committee was forced to pass this Act, and then the government got it approved from the Cabinet Division. Now, the Punjab Government is prepared to pass the notorious MTI Act from the Punjab Assembly during its session starting from October 11, 2019.
He suggested that the Punjab government should not to take hasty steps in passing the MTI Act. Instead, they should hold talks with prominent medical organizations like PMA, Young Doctor’s Association, and Grand Health Alliance to resolve this issue amicably.