ISLAMABAD: A 25-member high-powered committee was formally notified on Thursday to assess the standards of medical education and private colleges, admission processes, and reasons for students going abroad for medical education.
The notification was issued under the direction of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will lead the committee. The committee is tasked with compiling a report within 10 days based on five terms of reference (TORs).
The committee will investigate the quality of medical education, admission procedures, standards of private medical colleges, and reasons behind students seeking medical education abroad. Furthermore, the committee will review the current regulatory framework and propose recommendations to improve coordination between the public and private sectors in the medical field.
In the 25-member high-powered committee, federal ministers, members of the National Assembly and heads of medical universities and institutions are included.
Key members of the committee are Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, Health Coordinator Malik Mukhtar Bhatti, National Assembly Member Nafisa Shah, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan, Federal Health Secretary, Special Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Chairman of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
The committee will also put forward recommendations for enhancing the quality of medical education in the country.
It is worthy to mention that Wednesday, the PM took notice of the Bishkek incident with Pakistani medical students and announced forming the committee to sort out the issue.
