The PMDC has clarified that its inspection and recognition procedures are transparent, lawful and free from corruption, rejecting recent media accounts as incomplete and misleading. The Council said PMDC inspections are being conducted to protect students and restore discipline in medical and dental education.
According to the Council, 15 medical and dental colleges received provisional recognition during 2019–20 under the former regulatory body in violation of the law. After reconstitution under the PMDC Act 2022, the Council immediately halted new student admissions at those colleges until thorough inspections could be completed. The Ministry of National Health Services referred the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency and the Islamabad High Court directed the Council to continue inspections while inquiries proceed.
PMDC inspections began only after legal, financial and other mandatory prerequisites were satisfied. To date 11 of the 15 colleges have been inspected, one inspection is being scheduled and three colleges remain uninspected because they failed to meet basic requirements within the given time. The Council dismissed claims of selective or unfair treatment as incorrect.
The Council stressed that recognition notifications are issued by the Federal Government after Federal Cabinet approval and are therefore outside PMDC’s direct control. Where colleges passed inspections, PMDC forwarded recommendations to the Ministry as required by law. One college has received official notification and six others await Cabinet action; the Council said such administrative delays should not be attributed to PMDC.
The PMDC said its process follows international benchmarks, deploying independent inspection teams and clear assessment criteria. Many institutions achieved compliance only after follow-up inspections, a sign of the Council’s commitment to maintaining standards rather than lowering them. Allegations of biased or weak inspections were described as misleading.
On alleged misconduct, show-cause notices have been issued to involved staff and the matter is before the courts. The Council stated there has been no attempt to hide information or avoid accountability. Stop-admission orders have been enforced where required, although a number of admissions occurred because of separate court rulings and remain subject to legal and regulatory review. The PMDC also noted that affiliated universities share legal responsibility for institutional compliance, making oversight a shared duty.
Since the PMDC Act 2022 and under the leadership of President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, the Council has introduced major reforms including a 10-year WFME accreditation, modern competency-based standards, a transparent inspection framework and full digitization of licensing and registration. These steps, the Council said, strengthen governance and public confidence in medical and dental education across Pakistan.
The PMDC reiterated that it has acted responsibly and in accordance with the law and remains committed to ensuring quality education, protecting students and safeguarding public health through rigorous PMDC inspections.
