The Ministry of Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination of Pakistan recently appointed new Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) members.
The appointments were made with the prime minister’s approval, based on the recommendations of the Search and Nomination Committee. The new members will serve a four-year term per Section-7 (1) of the PM&DC Act, 2022.
The new members include a diverse group of medical practitioners and professionals from various fields:
- Prof Amjad Siraj Memon – Medical Practitioner
- Prof Rizwan Taj – Medical Practitioner
- Muhammad Zubair Khan – Medical Practitioner
- Dr. Mahmud Aurangzeb – Medical Practitioner
- Prof Dr. Tehmina Asad – Dentist
Dr. Tehmina Asad is a noteworthy addition to the council, as she is the first female doctor from Pishin, Balochistan, to be appointed to the PMDC.
Additionally, professionals from different fields have also been appointed to the council:
- Jawad Amin Khan – Philanthropist
- Chaudhry Sultan Mansoor – Lawyer
- Noorul Haque – Chartered Accountant
These appointments were made on merit, with over 70 candidates participating in the interview process. Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel headed the Search and Nomination Committee. He expressed optimism about the improvements to medical education with the new PMDC members in place. Patel emphasized that all issues related to medical education must be resolved on a priority basis and mentioned that the health sector reforms were progressing rapidly.
In January this year, President Dr. Arif Alvi assented to the PMDC Bill 2022 following its passage by parliament. However, the bill’s passage in the Senate involved the insertion of numerous amendments already passed by the National Assembly. During the debate on the bill, opposition members alleged that the legislation aimed to create many incompetent medical professionals to serve the vested interests of a mafia. However, the treasury benches stressed the urgency of passing the bill, citing its importance for medical students’ future.
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