Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan is the fourth biggest exporter of doctors to the Unites States of America (US) as more than 12,028 Pakistani national physicians are working in the US.

This was said by Federation of State Medical Boards of United States President Dr Humayun Javaid Chaudhry during a meeting held here at the University of Health Science (UHS) on Friday.

Dr Humayun, who is also the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) chairman, was invited by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

PM&DC President Dr Shabbir Ahmad Lehri, council member Dr Amir Bandesha, UHS Vice Chancellor Major General (r) Prof Muhammad Aslam, Pro-VC Prof Dr Junaid Sarfraz Khan, pro-vice chancellors of the King Edward Medical University Lahore and the Fatima Jinnah Medical University Lahore were also present.

The IAMRA chairman appreciated the system of medical and dental education in Pakistan. He said that around 12,028 Pakistani national physicians are working in US. Out of which, 3,100 doctors had graduated from the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, and 1,900 from King Edward Medical University, Lahore. Agha Khan University, Karachi and Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore are on third and fourth position, respectively.”

He congratulated the PMDC on being a responsible monitoring body and maintaining good standards of education in Pakistani medical and dental colleges. He added three Pakistani institutions were the members of IAMRA, and also invited the UHS to apply for the membership.

PMDC President Prof Dr Shabbir Ahmad Lehri said standardisation of medical education in Pakistan was the main objective of the council. He said that a committee, headed by Prof Dr Eice Muhammad, was working vigorously on curriculum reforms at undergraduate level whereas efforts were also being made to promote medical tourism in Pakistan.