Zubair Qureshi
The Pakistan Medical Commission has called a meeting of dental colleges on Wednesday (May 11) and a seminar of all Pakistan Dental Colleges on Thursday (May 12) to discuss the issues regarding the low number of admissions in dental colleges.
At present, out of 100 students who opt for admission to medical colleges, even less than 25 go for dental college admissions. They choose for other disciplines when they fail to get admission to medical colleges.
A letter has been received from the President Pakistan Association of Private Medical and dental institutions (PAMI) suggesting a number of proposals. These proposals along with other issues will be discussed in the upcoming meetings, said a senior official of the PMC Islamabad while talking to Pakistan Observer here Saturday.
One of the key proposals put forth by PAMI Sindh is to remove the ‘conflict of interest’ clause from the PMC Act 2020 and consequently to allow those regulated to be a part of the decision making body while also suggesting the removal of the requirement to qualify the Medical & Dental Colleges Admissions Test (MDCAT) for admission and consequent grant of a medical license.
This, however, is a matter for the Parliament to decide and not the Commission, the official further said. A report has been sought by the Ministry of Health from the Commission.
In order to address these issues for future admissions the PMC will be seeking the proposals from the dental colleges in the upcoming seminar and forward these to the Academic Board for its consideration.
It is pertinent that MDCAT 2021 was conducted in 25 centers across 22 cities nationally and in 6 international centers.
According to the PMC spokesperson, fake news is being circulated by certain quarters that the MDCAT curriculum ignores the curriculum of different provinces.
The commission, he said, has clarified to the Federal Government in its report that the council issued a policy that the MDCAT curriculum to be formulated by the Academic Board must be a common curriculum to all HSSC Boards of all Provinces and regions.
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