LAHORE: The King Edward Medical University (KEMU) opened a new Pandora’s box after it got nine fellowships of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) programmes recognised from the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) bypassing the varsity’s top forums as well as the Punjab government.

The university was also accused of misuse of funds after it paid a hefty amount to the CPSP from the varsity’s funds (as fee) to get the Level-4 programmes recognised. As the FCPS programmes were being run by the CPSP, the utilisation of funds from the university budget was being considered as gross misconduct on the part of the management.

The MD/MS qualifications were KEMU’s own degree programmes and as per rules the varsity was supposed to get them recognised from the Syndicate, a senior official said. However, not only the KEMU ignored these programmes, but also managed to get rival qualifications recognised without bringing the matter to the notice of the health authorities, he added.

The official also said that the varsity management had never designed several MD/MS Level-4 programmes to get them approved from the varsity’s top forums, including board of studies, Syndicate and Academic Council. Some of those designed have not been presented for approval.

The MD/MS programmes awaiting approval or recognition included medical emergency, orthopaedic, paediatric nephrology, etc.

The programmes the KEMU got recognised from the CPSP, included FCPS endocrinology, rhematology, neonatology, paediatric nephrology, breast surgery, critical care medicine, etc. This showed that the university had lost its mandate to run its own programmes for which it was established, he said.

Many senior faculty members believed that if not reviewed, the above-mentioned attempt would prove the last nail in the coffin of the university’s own degree programmes.

The Association of University Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan also brought the matter to the notice of the Punjab government for intervention and immediate action against the responsible KEMU officials. While submitting a complaint, the association asked Health Secretary Barrister Nabeel Awan for an impartial high-level inquiry into the issue.

In the complaint, the association stated that multiple Level-4 programmes of the CPSP were propelled into functionality via executive orders of the KEMU vice chancellor.

“The KEMU VC used the budget of the university without prior approval of any competent authority,” it further reads, adding that this was the mandate of the administrative head of the attached hospital of KEMU, Mayo Hospital, to forward for recognition.

The association called it a “conflict of interest”, as the KEMU VC was also an office-bearer of the CPSP.

KEMU Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Masood Gondal refused to comment on the matter. Health Secretary Awan said the association’s complaint had not yet reached his office.

“On receipt of the letter, the factual position will be looked into and appropriate action taken accordingly,” he said.

The secretary, however, admitted that there was no balance in induction of candidates for Level-4 programmes of FCPS and the rival MD/MS programme despite instructions issued by the health department.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2020