DN Report Islamabad: As per the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) advertisement published in daily press the other day with regards to the Notice of Election for Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, the Dental Community may not get representation since the elections to be held collectively of medical and dental professionals. According to the advert published there is only one seat from every province for Dental Practitioner, no separate Dental Seats for faculty position in public and private sector have been announced putting dental community at a clear disadvantage. The advertisement clearly states that electoral called upon for the elections to be held and even highlights the terms, conditions and requirements for being the part of election. According to the Pakistan Medical and Dental council; only a registered medical/dental practitioner with a valid license will be allowed to vote and Medical/Dental practitioner may get their license/faculty registration certificates renewed to qualify in order to be nominated as candidate for the seat. It also states that there is only one seat from every province for Dental Practitioner, no separate Dental Seats for faculty position in public and private sector have been announced. They are jointly with the Medical faculty. As stated in Election Schedule; last date of nomination of paper is 3rd November 2015. The last dates for filing objections and nomination papers are 9th & 10th November 2015, Filing of appeals will be done on 11th November 2015. Decision of appeals will be done on 13th November 2015 and 16th November 2015 will be the day for withdrawal from candidature. Final list will be published on 17th November 2015 which will lead to the polling day held on 5th December 2015. There are no separate seats for women from either medical or dental fraternity. The President Pakistan Dental Association, Prof Saqib Rashid has already written to the Minister of National Health and regulatory affairs Saira Tarar, Election Commissioner and the Prime Minister’s secretariat highlighting this clause asking them to re-visit the election guidelines to provide even playing field to dentists.
