LAHORE, Dec 30: The Federal Health Ministry may ban the establishment of new medical and dental colleges for at least three years according to the recommendation of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for the ‘shortage’ of teachers.

A PMDC official said it would not be wise to allow new medical and dental colleges without considering the shortage of teachers as new colleges would only depend on the exiting faculty.

“Engaging the existing faculty which is already overburdened means further lowering of the education standards,” he argued.

At present, there are 68 public and private medical institutions in the country. The PMDC of late recognised another 10 both in the public and private sectors while their cases have been lying pending with the ministry for issuance of no-objection certificates.

In the last PMDC meeting this issue had also come under discussion. Some supported the ban while others called it a move to “please” a certain group of one province that does not want new medical colleges to avoid competition for its own institution.

A Punjab Health Department official said if the ban was imposed it would greatly affect several projects, especially in the province.

He said ban was no solution and the government should regulate the sector, improve quality of education and reduce the number of seats in existing and new private medical colleges. He disputed the claim of the council that there was a shortage of teachers.

Also, the executive of the council has recommended that private institutions should pay 100 per cent paid house-job to their graduates at their own hospitals in accordance with PMDC regulations and requirements.

The committee also has recommended that in order to meet the requirements of law, the council may approve and forward the foreign qualification schedule of registered qualifications to the ministry for notification in the official gazette as is mandated in the section 16 of the PMDC Ordinance 1962.