Since coming into power the PTI government has been receiving criticisms from almost all corners. Be it Imran khan’s snub of the Islamic summit held in Malaysia. Or his government’s inability to control this crippling economy.
Times certainly have not been kind for them lately. Recently, one of their actions that received tremendous backlash was the dissolution of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
The PMDC is a regulatory body that keeps a record of all the doctors practicing in the country. It also regulates the standards and the quality of education being provided to the medical students. The PMDC has been in existence since 1948 and throughout has played an important role in guiding and safeguarding the rights of doctors.
The dissolution of the PMDC by the PTI Government:
On October 20th, 2019, the PTI Government announced the dissolution of the PMDC. The decision which was led by President Dr. Arif Alvi paved the way for the creation of a new commission that would replace PMDC. The new ordinance which was titled as the Pakistan Medical Commission was outright rejected by the doctors and the young doctors as well.
Skeptical nature of the change:
As we all know that over the years there have been many clashes between the doctors and the government. Especially the young doctors who have always disagreed over the salaries and organizational structure. They see it as the Government’s bid to control the medical officers in the country. On the other hand, the Government blames the commission of promoting corruption and mismanagement.
PMDC’s plea to the Islamabad High Court:
The governments’ move was then labeled as undemocratic by the commission as protests erupted across the country. The commission had then filed a petition in the IHC to challenge the dissolution. On Tuesday, the IHC declared the dissolution to be null and void.
They also concluded that although the parliament is empowered to dissolve the PMDC, the president, vice president and the committee would still stay until a new committee is elected. They also pointed out that the government is unauthorized to appoint an official below Grade 20 to head the committee.
Great news for Pakistani doctors and medical students:
As we all know that the PMDC has been in existence for a long time, it is the only regulatory body that not only safeguards the interests and the rights of the doctors but is also known to guide them on the right paths as well. The PMDC also plays a huge role in saving the doctors from being exploited.