Foreign Medical Graduates Protest PMDC Policy Shift, Demand Clear Licensing and Training Pathway
Foreign Medical Graduates have voiced strong concern over recent policy decisions by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, warning that abrupt changes in licensing and training regulations are stalling careers, limiting clinical exposure, and creating uncertainty for thousands of young doctors seeking to serve the healthcare system.
The Foreign Medical Graduates community says recent PMDC measures have directly impacted their professional progression after the council stopped issuing provisional licenses. Earlier notifications had assured FMGs that Provisional Registration Medical Practitioner licenses would be granted before appearing in the National Registration Examination once updated lists were finalized. However, the sudden reversal of this policy has left many graduates without a legal pathway to begin clinical practice. Alongside this decision, FMGs have also been barred from house jobs, while internships and observership programs have been discontinued.
Medical graduates argue that internships and observerships have long been a critical bridge between academic learning and clinical practice, especially for graduates from countries such as China. Under supervised hospital settings, these programs allowed FMGs to gain hands-on experience, improve patient care skills, and prepare for future licensing exams. The suspension of these opportunities has effectively closed multiple routes for clinical training, increasing frustration and professional stagnation among young doctors.
Dr. Rafey Sher, representing the Foreign Medical Graduates community, raised these issues after a meeting attended by an FMG delegation. He emphasized that foreign-qualified doctors need a consistent, transparent, and predictable system for registration and training instead of repeated policy reversals. Participants stressed that uncertainty surrounding licensing rules is causing mental stress, financial strain, and prolonged delays in career development.
The delegation also highlighted the need to conduct the National Registration Examination at least four times a year. According to FMGs, the limited frequency of the exam is resulting in wasted years, delayed specialization, and loss of skilled manpower that could otherwise strengthen Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
Dr. Rafey Sher further urged PMDC and the Ministry of Health to modernize the examination process by replacing the traditional bubble-sheet method with a computerized testing system. He said manual exams increase the risk of errors, while computer-based assessments align with international medical examination standards and ensure greater transparency, accuracy, and efficiency.
Foreign Medical Graduates have called on PMDC and government authorities to urgently engage with stakeholders, review current policies, and introduce fair and standardized regulations. They maintain that protecting the rights of FMGs and ensuring structured training pathways is essential not only for young doctors but also for improving healthcare delivery and aligning Pakistan’s medical regulatory framework with global best practices.
Read in Urdu : غیر ملکی میڈیکل گریجویٹس کا پی ایم ڈی سی پالیسیوں کے خلاف احتجاج، لائسنسنگ اصلاحات کا مطالبہ
