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Chairman Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti presides over a meeting at the Parliament House on March 11, 2025. — Facebook@Pakistansenate
#PMDC #fire #fee #structure #private #medical #colleges
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) was subjected to severe criticism on Tuesday when members of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Committee have asked for their authority and steps to increase the fee structure of private medical and dental colleges.
Despite the rising concerns over tuition fees, PMDC officials reiterated that under the current legal framework, the regulatory body does not have the option to set a maximum fee limit for private entities.
During a hot meeting of the committee chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Senator Irfan Siddiqui strongly criticized the PMDC’s non -practical, discussing that the lack of fee regulations was burdened with students and their families.
PMDC officials defended the post of council, including its president and registrar, Dr. Shyesta decisions, saying that a special committee headed by Fatima Jinnah Medical University Lahore, Professor Khalid Masood Gondal, has been given a private committee for his fees. It is expected that the committee will submit its report
Council in the coming days. State Minister for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharat said, “The matter will now have to come to a conclusion. We cannot afford to discuss the same issue at every meeting without any resolution.”
The Senate Committee was informed that a joint committee comprising officials of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) and PMDC, headed by Special Secretary Health Mirza Nasiruddin Meshed Ahmed, almost earlier. The ban of Rs 1.2 million was recommended. However, the PMDC Council did not approve the recommendation, citing legal barriers. Senator Siddiqui and other members of the committee expressed disappointment over the decision, saying that despite the lack of approval of the PMDC, the colleges had already submitted fees for 2024.
Senator Paulosha Khan accused private medical colleges of acting like ‘mafia’ by exploiting students by increasing unlawful fees.
He also pointed out that his sub -committee had recommended the return of excess fees collected in 2024, yet no action was taken to put these recommendations into practice.
Senator Siddiqui pressured PMDC officials whether they were satisfied with the justification provided by private colleges to increase their fees. PMDC President Professor Rizwan Taj acknowledged that he was not fully believed but it was reaffirmed that there was a lack of legal authority to interfere with the council.
PMDC officials also revealed that the annual fee for private medical colleges in 2010 was Rs 500,000, but after that it scored between Rs 3 million and Rs 3.5 million.
The members expressed disappointment over the unmanned addition and called for immediate reforms to make medical education more affordable and accessible. In addition to further complexity to the issue, PMDC officials confirmed that some private medical college was collecting fees for a session of 2024-25, yet they were prevented from doing so. Palosha Khan insisted that these colleges who violate the directive should be held accountable.
Meanwhile, the health care sector also discussed broader regulatory issues. The committee considered a proposed amendment to organize diagnostic centers and prevent significant contradictions in prices in medical tests. Senator Mohsin Aziz, who introduced the Islamabad Health Care Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2025, highlighted that laboratory allegations may vary from 50 pc to 100 pc, often leaving patients at the mercy of profitable companies. The purpose of this bill is to standardize prices and ensure fair medical expenses.
Senator Kamran Murtaza’s proposed Pakistan Psychological Council Bill 2025 was also discussed. He argued that despite the passing of the National Assembly Law and Justice Committee, the bill was caught in the bureaucratic process. However, the government defended its stance, saying it was integrating a number of health care councils, including nursing and psychological services to smooth regulatory functions.
The issue of medical seats for students belonging to the former FATA region was also discussed. Former Senate Deputy Chairman Senate Mirza Mohammad Afridi expressed concern over reducing the allotted seats from 333 to 194, which affected students who promised appointments under specific projects.
He called on the PMDC to review and restore the original allocation. Representatives of the PMDC made it clear that the matter is now before the Supreme Court, and further proceedings will depend on the court’s decision.
The meeting concluded with harsh calls for action on all fronts, especially on the regularization of private medical college fees. The committee called for immediate steps to prevent further exploitation of the students and ensure the ability to be able to ensure the ability of medical education.
