ISLAMABAD: In a meeting held under the chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination called for tighter regulation of the private medical sector and an overhaul of admission criteria for medical and dental colleges. The committee expressed concerns over the rising costs of pharmaceutical products and the need to align medical education standards with international criteria.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the meeting was attended by several key senators, including Rubina Khalid, Syed Masroor Ahsan, and Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur. Senator Khalid raised issues regarding the high prices of pharmaceutical products, prompting the CEO of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to commit to delivering a detailed report within two weeks. A survey covering half of the pharmaceutical products in the market is also planned.
The committee reviewed entry test criteria for medical colleges in various Asian countries, with the chairman directing adherence to international standards. The Federal Minister for National Health Services highlighted that many foreign-qualified graduates struggle to pass local licensing exams, emphasizing the need for realistic career awareness. The President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) noted previous issues with unfilled seats and proposed using last year’s successful formula to address this.
Concerns were also raised about the increase in medical college seats. The Minister clarified that seat enhancements are being considered to curb students from seeking education abroad, with a three-year cap imposed on further increases. The newly enacted Nursing Council Act was also discussed, with elections for leadership positions completed.
The committee urged improvements in domestic medical education to retain students, highlighting an annual loss of USD 800 million due to foreign education. The chairman stressed the importance of enhancing local facilities and aligning admission criteria with international standards to preserve foreign exchange and provide quality education domestically.