Parents, PMA unite against PMDC’s new policy

Parents of medical students across Punjab voiced strong opposition to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC)’s recent decision to increase passing marks from 50 percent to 65 percent and mandate 85 percent attendance during a meeting with the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) leadership on Sunday.

A good number of parents met with PMA’s Committee on PMDC Chairman Prof Dr Ashraf Nizami and PMA Lahore Vice President Dr Ahmed Naeem and voiced their strong reservations over recent policy changes. 

They termed the move as "irrational, unconstitutional, and unethical.

The parents argued that the abrupt policy shift has triggered severe stress, depression, and despair among medical aspirants.

"These arbitrary rules are making education unjustly difficult for our children, who are already under immense academic pressure." 

They further argued that such policies make the academic journey unnecessarily difficult and unfair, potentially discouraging students from pursuing medicine.  

In response, the PMA leadership assured parents of their full support, declaring the PMDC’s decisions “unconstitutional and unlawful.

It was decided in the meeting that PMA will launch a comprehensive awareness campaign.

This will include seminars, press conferences, meetings with authorities, and legal action through a writ petition in court.

Prof Nizami termed the PMDC’s decision "suspicious" and vowed to challenge it through "all constitutional and public avenues."

The meeting saw unanimous support from parents of students enrolled in medical colleges across Punjab, who endorsed the PMA’s plan.