Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has so far failed to take action against many unrecognised medical and dental colleges functioning across the country, Daily Times has learnt.

According to the available documents, there are around 11 medical as well as dental colleges functioning without recognition of the PM&DC.

Under the PM&DC Ordinance 1962, it is mandatory for a medical or dental college to get official approval from the council before beginning the academic activities in the college. In case of failure, the college would be considered illegal.

The list of illegal colleges being run in various parts of the country includes Bacha Khan Medical College Mardan, Shahida Islam Medical and Dental College Lodhran, Northwest School of Medicine Peshawar, Watim Dental College Rawalpindi, M Islam Medical and Dental College Gujranwala, Nowshera Medical College Nowshera, Bakhtawar Amin Medical College Multan, Sindh Institute of Oral Health Sciences Karachi, Rahman College of Dentistry Bahawalpur and Hi-tech Medical College Texila.

The information suggested that these colleges were being functioned without obtaining the no-objection certificates (NOCs) or recognitions from the council since last many years. They were also offering new admissions in every new session. Whereas, according to the PM&DC, these colleges got stay order from the respective lower courts and high courts.

The sources in the council revealed that these illegal colleges were not only giving degrees to their enrolled students but were also offering new admissions. The sources said that the authorities should take strict actions against such colleges, as it was a matter of public interest.

In a letter last month, a copy of which was obtained by this scribe, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said that it had been observed that a large number of medical and dental colleges were being functioned without official nod from the PM&DC and these colleges also approached different courts while the courts granted them stay orders.

The ministry directed the PM&DC to challenge these stays orders in the upper court.

“The PM&DC may file appeals at appropriate higher forum up to supreme court of Pakistan against these orders obtained by any and all unrecognised colleges within time under the limitation of the ministry,” read the directives.

The matter of illegal and unrecognised medical colleges was also taken in a Senate standing committee meeting last month. The committee members expressed dismay over the functioning of illegal colleges.

The PM&DC officials informed the committee that the council had published public warnings in the national dailies, prohibiting the students from taking admissions into the colleges mentioned in the list. The committee members maintained that to publish just public warnings in the newspapers was not enough; it needed to take some stern actions against them.

During the meeting, committee member Senator Azam Khan Swati also pointed out the name of Institute of Modern Studies (IMS) that was not approved by the council.

“This institute has provided thousands of diplomas and certificates. The authorities have not taken any notice,” he said. Senator Swati said that IMS was offering diplomas in 305 various disciplines at the intermediate level, 365 at the bachelor’s level and diplomas in 276 disciplines of post-graduate level,” Swati had disclosed on the floor of the House.

Currently, according to the PM&DC there were 19 recognised medical colleges, 29 recognised medical universities, 43 recognised dental colleges and 18 post-graduate institutes.

When contacted, PM&DC President Dr Shabeer Lehri said that so far these colleges had not been officially notified for their functioning. However, they obtained stay orders from various courts and to intervene at this stage would be tantamount to “contempt of court”. When asked about the ministry’s directives to approach the Supreme Court against these stay orders, Lehari said, “The ministry just ordered and did not provide any mechanism for this purpose.”

He said that if the ministry was willing, it should take action itself instead of asking the PM&DC. Despite repeated attempts, Ministry of National Health Services Secretary Ayub Sheikh could not be approached to get the ministry’s stance on the issue.