ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has launched a new digital inspection process for medical and dental colleges across the country.
The PMDC announced that the evaluation of educational institutions will now be carried out through a fully digital platform, marking a significant shift towards modernization. Meanwhile, the National Inspector Pilot Training Program has commenced in Islamabad. President of PMDC, Dr. Rizwan Taj, described the three-day training as a vital step toward establishing a transparent and standardized approval mechanism. He praised Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal for his valuable guidance and support.
Dr. Taj revealed that 60 experts from various regions are participating in the training, which includes practical exercises using the new proforma 350. He added that during the pilot phase, ten multidisciplinary teams conducted digital inspections at different colleges, paving the way for a more advanced approval process in the future.
Earlier this year, PMDC conducted physical inspections of all medical and dental colleges nationwide, covering both public and private sectors, under government directives. Master trainers have now been fully equipped to oversee the digital process and will train additional inspectors for on-site evaluations.
During inspections, standards related to infrastructure, faculty quality, and overall college facilities were evaluated. Institutions found lacking in compliance were not penalized immediately; instead, they were granted a six-month period to improve their standards. The admission process will continue as usual, giving substandard colleges an opportunity to upgrade before facing any sanctions.
In recent developments, the PMDC also issued a notice to private colleges, banning the collection of fees until further recommendations from the Medical Education Committee, headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, are received. This move follows advice from the Senate’s Health Sub-Committee, which recommended halting fee collection temporarily.
The committee is currently reviewing the challenges faced by private medical colleges, which have reportedly collected over Rs. 15 million in fees over the past five years, according to sources.
