PMDC Halts Registration of New Medical Colleges for 3 Years

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council PMDC has officially announced a three-year moratorium on approving new medical colleges in Pakistan, citing a lack of qualified teaching faculty as the main reason. This decision was presented before the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services during its recent meeting in Islamabad.

Presided over by Senator Aamir Waleeduddin, the session also debated the controversial PMDC Amendment Bill 2025, which seeks to add parliamentarians to the PMDC board. PMDC President Dr. Rizwan Taj initially claimed that lawmakers were never part of the board, but was corrected by the chair, who clarified that a senator and an MNA had previously held board positions.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal stood firmly against political inclusion, warning that such involvement could damage the council’s independence and the global perception of Pakistan’s medical community.

Kamal emphasized that Pakistan’s doctors are still well-respected globally, and politicizing the PMDC could erode that reputation. Interestingly, he added that he himself is not included in the council’s board, underscoring its independent functioning.

The ban on new medical colleges is seen as a quality control measure to ensure that existing institutions are well-staffed and capable of delivering world-class medical education.