Pakistan Medical Commission

Pakistan Medical Commission
Name	Pakistan Medical Commission
Formation	2019
Predecessor	Pakistan Medical and Dental Council
Headquarters	Islamabad
Region served	Pakistan
Leader title	Chairperson

Pakistan Medical Commission is the statutory regulatory authority for medical and dental education and practitioner registration in Pakistan. It was established to replace the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council following legislation enacted amid debates in the Parliament of Pakistan and adjudication by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The commission interacts with medical schools, hospitals, and professional associations such as the Pakistan Medical Association and interfaces with international bodies like the World Health Organization and the General Medical Council.

History

The genesis of the commission traces to controversies surrounding the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and reform efforts during the government of Imran Khan (politician), which prompted the passage of the Pakistan Medical Commission Act, 2019 by the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan. The Act was challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and resulted in multiple rulings affecting regulatory authority, provoking interventions by the Federal Cabinet of Pakistan and the Ministry of National Health Services. Key stakeholders included the Pakistan Medical Association, the Pakistan Dental Association, and provincial bodies such as the Punjab Healthcare Commission. Subsequent amendments and orders have been influenced by judgments in landmark cases heard at the Islamabad High Court and references to precedents from the High Court of Sindh.

Organizational structure and governance

The commission's governance framework includes a regulatory council, provincial boards, and an administrative secretariat based in Islamabad. Leadership appointments have involved figures appointed by the President of Pakistan and accountability to committees of the Parliament of Pakistan. Operational links exist with statutory institutions like the Higher Education Commission (Pakistan) and specialised agencies including the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan for pharmacy-related coordination. The commission works alongside professional organisations including the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan and university medical faculties such as King Edward Medical University and Aga Khan University.

Functions and responsibilities

The commission's remit covers the accreditation of medical and dental colleges, registration of practitioners, formulation of curricula, and maintenance of a national register used by hospitals like the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and private chains such as the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. It issues policies impacting postgraduate training at institutes such as the Allama Iqbal Medical College and specialist certification linked to bodies like the Royal College of Physicians. The commission also supervises professional conduct and disciplinary matters analogous to roles performed by the General Medical Council in the United Kingdom and the Medical Council of India historically.

Accreditation and licensing

Accreditation processes involve evaluation of institutions such as Dow Medical College, Liaquat National Medical College, and newer private entities approved by provincial authorities in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Licensing requirements for graduates of domestic programs and foreign-trained doctors reference standards comparable to those used by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and are influenced by international agreements with institutions like World Federation for Medical Education. The commission maintains lists of recognized medical schools and issues licences necessary for clinical practice in tertiary centres like the Aga Khan University Hospital and public hospitals administered by the Ministry of National Health Services.

Examinations and assessments

The commission administers nationwide examinations for licensure, modeled in part on assessments used by bodies such as the USMLE in the United States and qualification exams by the Medical Council of Canada. These include entry assessments for medical colleges, progression exams, and a National Licensing Examination for graduates. Examination outcomes affect eligibility for postgraduate placements at institutions including the Pakistan Medical Research Council-affiliated centres and specialist training administered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan.

Controversies and legal challenges

Since its inception the commission has been at the centre of disputes involving the Pakistan Medical Association, provincial governments like the Government of Sindh, and legal petitions filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and high courts. Contentious issues have included recognition of foreign medical degrees from countries such as China and Bangladesh, the validity of licences for graduates from private colleges, and the balance of powers between federal and provincial authorities exemplified by cases citing constitutional provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan. Criticisms have come from student groups at institutions like Dow University of Health Sciences and clinicians from hospitals such as the Mayo Hospital, prompting parliamentary questions and calls for reforms by commissions of inquiry and committees of the Senate of Pakistan.

Category:Medical and health organisations based in Pakistan