Foreign Medical Graduates have been left in limbo after the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council revised the provisional registration rules and opened its online portal following the National Registration Examination results on February 10. The change stipulating that only candidates who cleared both Step 1 and Step 2 of the NRE could apply for a PMDC provisional license prompted many eligible graduates to prepare their applications immediately.
Within hours of the portal going live, officials reportedly advised applicants to pause submissions while internal technical modifications were completed. That sudden instruction created immediate uncertainty for graduates who had met the new criteria and were ready to begin the licensing process.
Dr. Rafey Sher, representing the Foreign Medical Graduates community, engaged Licensing Department officials and was told that certain backend updates were still pending and would be addressed to allow eligible candidates to proceed. Despite this, graduates continue to receive inconsistent guidance from different departments, with some told to apply right away and others instructed to wait for further notice.
Technical deficiencies in the online system have compounded the problem. Several recognised universities reportedly do not appear in the portal’s database, preventing eligible applicants from completing submissions and raising concerns about possible delays to their registration timelines.
FMGs say the absence of a fully functional portal alongside a revised policy has exposed weaknesses in coordination and internal communication at PMDC. They insist that a smooth and predictable PMDC provisional license process is essential for their ability to begin practice and for preserving public confidence in medical regulation.
Stakeholders are urging the council to complete the necessary technical updates without delay, issue an official written clarification that sets out the correct application procedure, ensure consistent instructions across departments, and provide a clear timeline for full portal activation. Graduates stress they remain committed to meeting regulatory requirements but require transparent and efficient systems to do so.
Read in Urdu: پی ایم ڈی سی کی عارضی لائسنسنگ پالیسی پر ابہام، غیر ملکی گریجویٹس پریشان
Copied From: FMGs Demand Clear PMDC Portal Action – Peak Point
