Pakistani Doctors trained in Cuba have complained that the Pakistani health authorities are not allowing them to practice in Pakistan, despite their extensive studies and One-year House Job training in medical sciences at some modern universities and hospitals in Cuba.
These doctors have voiced their complaint in front of the Deputy Chairman of Senate - Sabir Ali Baloch, who acknowledged their competence by honoring the first batch of 300 qualified Pakistani doctors arriving from Cuba.
According to news reports; The medical professionals also demanded to be exempted from the National Examination Board test, which is conducted by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
After a massive earthquake in Pakistan during 2005, the Cuban government had responded generously by offering scholarships to Pakistani students. Complete support was offered to these students by Senator - Kulsoom Parveen, who promised to resolve their accreditation issues in Pakistan, by discussing the matter with PMDC officials on 14th May.
The Chairman of HEC - Dr Mukhtar Ahmad also assured the Cuban-trained doctors that the issue will soon be taken up officialy. The Chairman of Defence Committee in the Senate; Mushahid Hussain had stated that; Cuba has one of the best medical systems in the world and it was a matter of pride that the first batch of doctors has returned. Nearly 145 students out of the 300, had recieved gold medals by scoring 99.2 per cent marks in their exams. He thanked the Cuban government for sending medical relief teams to help the earthquake victims in 2005.
Cuba has thus inspired the third world with leadership that showed courage in preserving independence, despite foreign interventions.
The Ambassador of Cuba in Pakistan - Jesus Zenen Concepcion also attended the ceremony and he felicitated the fresh graduates, while expressing hope that they would invest their energies in improving the health sector of Pakistan. Senator Sabir Ali Baloch hoped that they would not hesitate to go to far-flung areas of Balochistan to serve the people.
