ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to initiate night
shifts in Nationwide medical collages, in a move strongly resisted by
Pakistan Medical Association (PMA).
Media reports have informed
that a notification issued in this regard by PM secretariat, PMDC
(Pakistan Medical and Dental Council), has been directed to start
second shift (evening shift) medical classes in Nationwide medical
collages.
PMDC has also been directed to review this decision,
which the PMDC has earlier strongly rejected during its 117th and 118th
meetings, with an outstanding majority. However this issue would still
be deliberated in the upcoming meeting of PMDC. In case the issue is
approved, Pakistan would be the first Country in the entire wide world
to initiate such a procedure.
Meanwhile according to statistics
displayed on the website of PMDC, there are more than 1200 students in
dentistry collages, while 4,500 students are undergoing MBBS classes.
In public sector collages this enrollment amounts to almost 5000
students.
Each of the medical students is charged Rs.500, 000
per annum in fees in private collages, and through this scheme these
collages stand to gain more than Rs 3 billion in fees.
Comparatively
the public sector medical collages would rather put an additional
financial strain of Rs. 2.5 billion on National exchequer.
Rejecting
the proposed move, the PMDC has said that in view of already lacking
facilities of teachers and facilities in both private and public sector
medical collages, this move would only degrade the medical standards. Online
