KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has strongly opposed a proposal by the registrar of a public sector university to lower admission percentage thresholds for medical colleges, warning that the move could undermine medical standards and jeopardise patient safety across the country.
In a statement issued on Friday, Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, Secretary General of the PMA, expressed deep regret and grave concern over what he described as an attempt to prioritise the commercial interests of certain institutions over merit and professional integrity. He said lowering entry standards in the medical profession would have long-term consequences for Pakistan’s healthcare system.
The PMA stated that medicine is a discipline where there is no margin for error and warned that reducing admission criteria would inevitably result in the production of ill-qualified practitioners, posing serious risks to human life.
The association said that while the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) functions as a screening mechanism, it cannot compensate for the declining quality of students. It maintained that the core problem lies in the deterioration of primary and secondary education and that meaningful reform is impossible without addressing corruption in lower-level examination boards and educational administration.
The PMA rejected claims that Pakistan faces a shortage of medical graduates, asserting instead that the country is experiencing a massive brain drain. According to the association, doctors are leaving due to low salary packages, limited career progression and postgraduate training opportunities, security concerns, lack of professional respect, and undue pressure from government institutions.
Calling for immediate intervention, the PMA urged the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and provincial authorities to categorically reject any proposal to lower admission percentages, ensure a uniform merit-based admission policy, and take concrete steps to improve working conditions, safety, and remuneration for doctors.
The association warned that increasing the number of substandard practitioners would not address Pakistan’s healthcare challenges but would instead deepen existing systemic weaknesses.
