ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) have started the process of implementing digitalisation system for better functioning. In this connection, chairman of ad hoc Council of PMDC, Justice (r) Mian Shakirullah Jan chaired a meeting to improve and revamp the IT system of the office and to implement digitalisation system to speedup up working and to move ahead towards paperless environment. Farjeel Javed DG and Bilal Abbasi, project head from National Information Technology Board, gave briefing regarding the new system to be installed. Dr Wasim Ahmed was also present in the meeting. The digitalisation system, which is being implemented, includes e-office system, which is the first step towards automating the paperless environment. “This system will bring paradigm shift by eradicating the limitations and drawbacks of physical process,” said a statement. “In the later stage, management information system will be installed, which will help in digitisation of software system for all institutions imparting medical/dental education. “ The Ad-hoc council chairman in the meeting said that IT reforms and their implementation was a must in the organisation and was the need of the hour. “The purpose of e-office system is to provide a standard platform common to all federal organisations, keeping in view the existing rules regulations of the organisation and to provide a fast, reliable and transparent system for quick disposal of working and to reduce the unnecessary delay and cost associated with traditional physical file system and record keeping.” He added that with this system doctors and medical dental institutions would be facilitated promptly. He said that it would help improve availability of data by utilising technology and information system in disposal of day-to-day business at the PMDC. “It will improve intercommunication between different departments of the council.” The chairman appreciated the Adviser to President/Chairman Prof Mubashir Malik for facilitating the process of digitalisation. Shakirullah Jan after the meeting welcomed and approved the idea of digitalisation and strictly directed officials concerned to start the process immediately. On his directives, letters have been written to the National Informational Technology Board to send a team of experts well versed with the whole system to start the process. It is pertinent to mention that the ad hoc body was appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The apex court on January 12 upholding the decision of Lahore High Court dissolved the 35-member governing council of the PMDC and nominated an interim body to run day-to-day affairs. The courts sent packing the governing council of the regulatory body on the petition of private medical and dental colleges on the plea that the council was functioning unlawfully because it was created under PMDC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015 which lapsed on April 25, 2016. Published in Daily Times, January 22nd 2018.