PMDC Issues Registration Certificates To Medical Graduates

Islamabad: Pakistani doctors can now receive permanent registration certificates from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) without having to pass the National Licensing Examination (NLE).

PMDC Registrar Dr Suleman Ahmed said that local graduates had to take and pass the NLE exam before receiving their permanent registration even after graduating from medical and dentistry colleges, under the prior law of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC).

Dr Suleman stated that different medical forums and groups organised a number of protests and demonstrations in this regard, and the previous administration frequently pleaded for the retraction of the aforementioned dark law.

NLE used to be conducted by doctors who graduated from Pakistan’s accredited medical and dental colleges in accordance with PMC law, which drew harsh criticism from the country’s doctors.

He said keeping in view the demand of the doctors, on the direction of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination(NHSRC) Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Patel this step was taken after signing the concerned legislation by the President.

After making all required preparations for the transition from PMC to PMDC, the PMDC opened its registration portal as a top priority. To help doctors across the nation, an interactive PMDC online portal has been launched in this regard.

Registrar Ahmed said that 1,500 registration certificates have been issued on the first day, and PMDC has already begun providing certificates of good standing and renewals.

“We invite all the local graduates, who are approximately over 10,000 and waiting for their permanent registration for a long time to apply online for registration. These graduates waited for quite a long time to get themselves registered but failed due to the rigid rules imposed by past PMC,” he added. APP

Dr Suleman stated that PMDC immediately after its promulgation made sure that the registration portal was accurate and secure enough to store doctors’ private information. It also developed a system that allows for the safe payment of application fees and a system for managing and tracking applications.

As per the new Law of the PMDC Act 2022, the exam for foreign graduates like National Registration Examination (NRE) has been introduced for Pakistani graduates having undergraduate degrees from foreign Institutions.

He told that passing the NRE would be required in order to receive a complete registration, and that the NRE would mostly consist of computer-based, objective multiple-choice questions with a practical component.

PMDC Registrar said, “We appreciate the recommendations from the medical fraternity across the nation and we provide full facilitation to reach out and answer the complaints of every medical professional and facilitate to the utmost.”