PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) has opposed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s (PMDC) decision to restrict Pakistani doctors holding medical degrees from Afghanistan from practising in the country, calling for a review of the policy.
ANP Spokesperson said linking students’ educational futures and professional careers with changes in international relations and political developments was unfair.
He argued that the legal status of educational institutions remains separate from diplomatic relations, which can change over time. He questioned the justification for preventing medical graduates from practising due to political tensions between countries.
Khan said the careers of students who pursued medical education in Afghanistan should not become a casualty of state-level disputes. He added that many students had invested years of effort, time, and resources in completing their degrees.
The ANP spokesperson questioned why government authorities, PMDC, and other relevant institutions did not inform students earlier if there were concerns regarding the recognition of these medical degrees or institutions.
He made it clear that ANP values meritocracy, quality benchmarks, and patient safety; however, these concepts should not be applied in order to jeopardize the prospects of those students who joined legally and graduated successfully.
Khan pleaded to the government, PMDC, and concerned authorities to review the decision and develop a mechanism, which would be based on competency tests if needed, in order to resolve the issue.
A compromise was required in which medical standards were to be protected along with justice being done to the graduating professionals.
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