The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council expressed deep sorrow over the death of a 22-year-old final-year medical student at Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, praying for strength and patience in this difficult time. This tragic loss highlights the urgent need to prioritise student mental health across medical and dental institutions.
PMDC has formally requested the college to provide a factual account of the incident within seven days, asking for the date, time and brief circumstances as recorded by the institution. The Council also sought details of any inquiry or fact-finding committee constituted, including its composition and terms of reference, any initial findings or the expected timeline for the committee’s report, steps taken or planned to strengthen student mental health support and counselling services, and the safety measures in place at the hostel following the incident.
The Council underlined that medical and dental students form a vital part of the nation’s future healthcare workforce and that incidents of this nature are deeply alarming. Strengthening support systems and ensuring a safe learning environment are essential to safeguarding both the physical and psychological wellbeing of students, and PMDC emphasised the importance of timely intervention and sustained care.
PMDC has advised all medical and dental colleges to hire qualified counsellors and psychologists to provide prompt guidance and health support to students in distress. Institutions were urged to establish effective and confidential student support mechanisms and to maintain vigilant monitoring of student wellbeing, with particular attention to signs of psychological stress, anxiety, depression and burnout, to ensure early identification and assistance.
The Council reiterated that proactive mental health support and timely counselling can play a critical role in preventing such heartbreaking incidents and in protecting the future of students. PMDC will continue to engage with relevant institutions to ensure appropriate measures are implemented and to help prevent any recurrence of similar tragedies.
