Irritable Policies of Pakistan Medical Commission

Barkat Ullah
In the modern Nation-state system, role of institutions holds immense importance. Meritocracy, functionality, punctuality and sense of responsibility are some of the key attributes that an institution is supposed to possess. Unfortunately, in the third world countries, institutions always struggle in terms of performance because of lack of such attributes. Like the rest of the developing world, People in Pakistan mostly have grievances from the malfunctions of institutions. PIA, WAPDA, Railway and many more in Pakistan, disappoint common people majority of the times. Health should be top most priority of a state, if it wants to become a modern welfare and prosperous state. In Pakistan, Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) is probably major prominent health institution, which addresses the affairs of Medical colleges and Doctors. It is supposed to manage health sector and Medical Colleges in highly proactive and professional way. Unfortunately, majority of the times, PMC didn’t fulfill the expectations of medical students and other health related sectors. Most recently, PMC showed a very ambiguous attitude in case of a medical college. It banned a private college in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar) for taking illegal donations and not facilitating medical students properly. A college names Muhammad medical college previously known as Al-Raze medical college was found guilty of getting millions of rupees from the students. The old setup of PMC under the monitoring of its vice president Ali Raza, banned the said college and put its name on black list, due to such illegal reputation and irregularities. Higher courts in this regard also issued strict instructions and asked PMC to facilitate victimized students. In this regard, Peshawar high court ordered PMC to adjust students in other colleges so that they can continue their studies without any delay. Supreme court and Islamabad High Court also seconded Peshawar High Court Decision, and ordered in favor of students. However, as the administration in Pakistan Medical Commission changed, it made an alleged deal with the ban college and ordered to reopen it. On one side, it opened the controversial institution and on other side it adopted a very Illusionary policy regarding students. It has kept hundreds of students on hold, and is constantly refusing to transfer their already submitted fees to the colleges in which they are enrolled as per court order. This Conspiratorial combination of PMC and privately owned college produces serious financial, mental and educational repercussions for the students. Majority of them are forced to submit their fee on the second time which has left them financially vulnerable. Both the college and PMC are refusing to provide challans of already submitted fees to the students, thus the situation has left students in deep financial risks. PMC has taken 180-degree U-Turn from its old decision of banning and black listing the college and is depending the college in the court. Court, students and their families and media circles are highly surprised that on what grounds PMC has given clean chit to the already banned and black listed college. Further, Medical Students are not only disturbed mentally but their studies are also negatively impacted to the great extent. These students are the future of health sector, and it is these who will serve the nation in the coming time. Suffering of them from the hands of institution like PMC and medical colleges will have immense short and long term devastation. Few self-centered individuals in such institutions not only ruin their institutions’ prestige, but are the major source of backwardness of the country as well. It is a food for thought for those who are on the driving seats, to resolve such issues on immediate and permanent basis.