Against the backdrop of reported discussions surrounding a proposed 28th constitutional amendment, fears of reduced provincial autonomy, possible cuts in financial resources, and speculation about the transfer of provincial subjects back to the federation, the Sindh government has moved to establish its own parallel medical regulatory authority alongside the federally administered Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC).
The Sindh Cabinet has approved the draft “Sindh Medical and Dental Council Act, 2025”, aimed at strengthening oversight of medical and dental professions, improving the quality of medical education, and enhancing doctors’ training mechanisms across the province. The cabinet also directed that the bill be introduced in the Sindh Assembly and referred to the relevant standing committee for deliberation.
According to sources, the Sindh Health Department informed the cabinet that the proposed legislation seeks to improve medical and dental education, streamline undergraduate and postgraduate training, and address healthcare sector requirements at the provincial level. Under the proposed law, the Sindh Medical and Dental Council (SMDC) would be empowered to regulate the registration of doctors and dental practitioners, recognition of medical and dental qualifications, accreditation of institutions, regulation of education and training, licensing and certification, professional ethics, disciplinary proceedings, continuing professional development, and advisory functions.
The proposed SMDC is expected to function on lines similar to the federal PM&DC. However, the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department (SGA&CD) raised several concerns regarding the proposed law, questioning the rationale for establishing a new council and asking which institutions are currently performing the proposed functions. The department also questioned whether the proposed body’s powers could overlap or conflict with those of the PM&DC, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and other statutory entities.
Additionally, concerns were raised over the absence of similar councils in other provinces, the lack of a comparative analysis, and the reported absence of consultation with the Finance Department and the Planning and Development Department.
In response, the Sindh Health Department maintained that while the PM&DC, under the PMDC Act, 2022, regulates licensing, accreditation, and standards at the federal level, the post-18th Amendment constitutional framework necessitates provincial regulatory mechanisms tailored to Sindh’s healthcare needs. Officials argued that centralized systems are unable to fully address the province’s requirements.
The department further clarified that the proposed SMDC would not replace the federal regulator but rather complement it by focusing on implementation, professional training, and healthcare development within Sindh, while the HEC would continue to regulate academic standards. The Health Department also informed the cabinet that no other province currently has a similar council and that Sindh was taking the lead on the initiative.
According to official correspondence available to Daily Times Health Minister told the cabinet that the Islamabad-based PM&DC had not effectively addressed Sindh’s professional and training requirements, making the establishment of a provincial council necessary. Drawing a comparison with the provincial Higher Education Commission model, she argued that just as Sindh has established a provincial counterpart to the federal HEC, a similar arrangement could also work in the healthcare education and regulatory sector.
During the meeting, the Advocate General Sindh informed the cabinet that the legal position on the proposed legislation had already been defended, while the health minister said legal proceedings were nearing conclusion and a positive outcome was expected.
Following deliberations, the provincial cabinet approved the draft “Sindh Medical and Dental Council Act, 2025” and directed its introduction in the Sindh Assembly with a motion for referral to the relevant standing committee. If enacted, the law would pave the way for Sindh’s first provincial regulatory framework for medical education, training, registration, and professional oversight, though questions over jurisdictional overlap with federal institutions are expected to persist.
The move also comes amid unverified reports of a potential constitutional amendment package that may alter the distribution of administrative and financial powers between the federation and provinces, prompting Sindh to pursue greater institutional autonomy in sectors currently regulated at the federal level.