KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) now has its Academic Board established by the Federal Ministry of Health, albeit after a six-month delay, with the government issuing the formal notification for its formation.
The National Medical and Dental Academic Board will consist of 21 members, serving a four-year tenure. The members include prominent figures such as the chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the principal of Pakistan Army Medical College, and four representatives of the Punjab government. Rawalpindi Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Umar, Sahiwal Medical College Principal Prof Dr Imran Hasan Khan, Prof Dr Ayesha Shaukat from Continental Medical College Lahore, Prof Dr Waheed Al Hamid from De Montmorency College of Dentistry Lahore, and Prof Dr Waqar Hussain from Bakhtawar Amin Medical and Dental College are also part of the board.
The members representing Sindh are Prof Saba Sohail, Principal of Dow Medical University Medical College, Prof Arshad Abro from Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Associate Dean Prof Rizwan Khan from Aga Khan University, and Bhatai Dental and Medical College Mirpurkhas Principal Dr Parmanand.
The board members from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are: Dean Dr Zahid Aman from GMC, Prof Dr Ziaul Haque from VCMU, Prof Dr Ziaul Islam from Zia Medical College Mardan, and Prof Dr Nasir Shah from Khyber College of Dentistry.
From Balochistan, BMC Principal Prof Dr Shamsullah Bazai, BMC Prof Dr Hanif Mengal, QIMS Quetta Prof Dr Rukhsana Majeed, and BMC Prof Dr Syed Abdul Rauf Shah have been appointed.
As per the rules of the Academic Board, it will be responsible for formulating the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum and Accreditation Standards for Medical and Dental Study Programmes in Pakistan, submitting its recommendations for approval to the Council.
The board will also develop dental study programmes within the country, enabling the graduates to practice medicine and dentistry in Pakistan, besides establishing examination procedures and structures for MDCAT.
