KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has raised serious concerns in response to recent statements by the Sindh health minister, as reported in various newspapers, announcing a 50 percent hike in medical college fees.
PMA apprehends serious repercussions for medical students and their families in the province, saying the decision will increase the financial strain already faced by those pursuing medical education.
In a country where medical education is already deemed costly, the PMA contends that this fee hike will particularly impact students from low-income backgrounds, potentially hindering their aspirations of becoming doctors.
Expressing worry, the PMA believes the decision will contribute to a widening socio-economic gap, limiting the accessibility of medical education for deserving candidates.
Highlighting the existing concerns about the quality of medical education in Pakistan, the PMA underscores issues related to the insufficient training of medical students and the overall standard of healthcare services. An increase in fees, devoid of concurrent improvement in education quality or healthcare facilities, will compound these challenges, it warns.
The PMA strongly urges the Sindh government to reconsider its decision and focus on enhancing both the quality and accessibility of medical education in the province.
Stressing the need for meticulous study and analysis, the PMA contends that any fee adjustments should be made with careful consideration of the financial burden on students and their families.