Senate rejects extra one year study rule for 50,000 health graduates

The Senate Health Committee rejected a proposal that would require around 50,000 already qualified graduates in Microbiology,

Islamabad: The Senate Health Committee rejected a proposal that would require around 50,000 already qualified graduates in Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biochemistry to complete an additional year of study, raising serious concerns over the effect of new rules on students and working professionals.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti at Parliament House.

The committee was briefed that a body formed under the Allied Health Professionals Council had proposed an additional one year study programme for graduates of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biochemistry due to gaps in their existing courses.

Senate members strongly opposed applying the proposed requirement to people who had already completed their degrees. Members questioned how graduates who studied according to the rules in force at the time could later be asked to complete another year.

During the discussion, officials and members noted that around 50,000 people with degrees in the three fields are already working in relevant areas. Members argued that changing the requirements after students had completed their education could create serious problems for their jobs and careers.

The committee stressed that students should not suffer because of any shortcomings in university courses or regulatory systems. Members also questioned whether a new education requirement could properly be applied to graduates who had completed their studies many years ago.

Representatives of the affected fields told the committee that microbiologists and biotechnologists had played important roles in laboratories, hospitals and diagnostic services, including during the Covid period. They sought continued recognition of their qualifications and registration under the relevant system.

The committee also questioned notices reportedly sent to institutions regarding graduates and laboratory related matters and sought a clearer and more practical approach for those already working in the field.

Members discussed the possibility of creating separate categories for graduates who completed their degrees before changes in the regulatory system while applying new standards to future students.

The committee decided that the matter needed further discussion and detailed comparison of the old and new education requirements before adopting any final solution.

The meeting also reviewed preparations for the upcoming MDCAT examination. A report presented before the committee stated that Pakistan has a policy of producing about 22,300 doctors each year, with strict admission requirements linked to that limit.

The committee was told that 93,000 students had qualified for the MDCAT examination last year but many could not secure admission because the country lacks enough medical colleges, hospitals and other facilities to accommodate all eligible students.

The discussion also raised concerns about the growing number of Pakistani doctors working abroad. Members were told that around 40,000 Pakistani doctors have been accepted for jobs in other countries, and this movement has also added to concerns about the shortage of doctors inside Pakistan.

The committee also discussed the rising cost of medical education. Members noted that medical education in some foreign countries can be more affordable than private medical colleges in Pakistan, where annual costs were discussed as reaching around Rs18 million to Rs25 million.

The Senate committee also reiterated that the BDS degree should consist of four years of study followed by one year of house job, instead of five years of study followed by one year of house job. The committee directed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council to issue a public notice on the matter.

The committee is expected to continue discussions on the education and registration issues and seek further explanations from the relevant regulatory bodies.