LAHORE – A good news for medical students as the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Wednesday announced significant policy changes aimed at regulating the operations of medical colleges across the province.
In a landmark decision, UHS prohibited medical colleges from imposing fines on students without prior approval from the university.
During the 37th meeting of the UHS Academic Council, presided over by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore, several critical resolutions were passed to ensure a fair and supportive educational environment.
Key participants included heads of affiliated medical colleges and other educational institutions.
Key Decisions:
Prohibition on Fines:
Medical colleges can no longer impose fines on students without UHS authorization. This decision aims to curb the practice of levying heavy fines on students for minor infractions, which often burden their parents financially.
Mandatory Policies:
All public and private medical colleges must adhere to UHS policies. Clear guidelines on student discipline and attendance will now be included in college prospectuses.
Attendance Regulations:
Students will be allowed 18 holidays per year. In case of excess holidays, students are required to attend additional classes to compensate.
Parent-Teacher Meetings:
Quarterly parent-teacher meetings have been made mandatory to enhance communication and address student issues promptly.
Scholarship Policies:
Private medical colleges are instructed to introduce scholarship policies for needy students. UHS will have a representative in the scholarship committees to ensure transparency.
Hospital Collaborations:
According to PMDC policy, private medical colleges must allocate free beds in their hospitals. Private teaching hospitals are also required to establish agreements with nearby government hospitals to manage patient overflow effectively.
Summer School Initiative:
UHS will launch a summer school this year to train medical students in various techniques during the summer holidays.
Leadership and Governance:
Professor Rathore emphasized that colleges should reduce their reliance on student clerks for administrative tasks and instead involve faculty members to address student issues. Additionally, any disciplinary actions, including suspension or expulsion of students, must have prior approval from UHS.
The meeting also approved the appointment of Dr. Huma Saeed Khan, Head of the Physiology Department, as the new member of the Advanced Studies and Research Board. Furthermore, new curricula for MS Vitreo-Retinal Ophthalmology and revised curricula for MS Neurosurgery were approved.
In a move to align certificate and diploma programs with degree programs, UHS has mandated a minimum attendance requirement of 85%.
