Punjab to introduce merit-based system for foreign medical graduates

LAHORE: The Punjab Health Department has decided to establish a transparent, merit-based system for house jobs and postgraduate training for foreign medical graduates.

In this regard, the department has constituted a nine-member committee comprising vice-chancellors of medical universities in Punjab and principals of medical colleges.

The committee will review the existing procedures for house jobs and postgraduate training for foreign medical graduates, with a particular focus on ensuring merit, transparency and uniformity in the induction process.

It will also examine the mechanisms for verifying medical degrees, registration, licences and eligibility criteria for foreign medical graduates.

Furthermore, the committee will identify administrative and legal gaps in the existing induction process and propose a centralised system for applications, verification, merit assessment and placement.

The committee has been directed to submit its recommendations regarding house jobs and postgraduate training for foreign medical graduates within 10 days.

Read more: LHC stays PMDC order expelling Afghan students from medical colleges

In September, the Lahore High Court (LHC) stayed the implementation of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) notifications ordering the expulsion of Afghan students from medical and dental colleges.

Justice Khalid Ishaq heard a petition filed by 30 Afghan students, including Syed Mobeen Ulfati, who challenged the PMDC notifications issued on July 31 and September 1.

The court issued notices to the federal government, PMDC and other respondents and sought their replies by September 18.

During the hearing, the PMDC counsel told the court that the visas of the students facing expulsion were no longer valid.

Justice Ishaq questioned how the students had been admitted to the institutions if their visas were not valid.

The petitioners contended that the PMDC notifications ordering their expulsion were unlawful and asked the court to declare them void.

Earlier, the PMDC had barred the admission, placement and transfer of Afghan nationals to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan until further orders.