PMDC Under Fire for Excluding Thousands of Foreign Medical Graduates; MNA Shahida Rehmani Backs FMGs’ Fight for Fair Licensing
ISLAMABAD – The Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) community in Pakistan has raised serious alarm over what they describe as an “unjust and discriminatory” ban imposed by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on the issuance of provisional licenses to foreign-trained doctors. The issue has triggered widespread outrage among medical professionals and lawmakers alike, with MNA Shahida Rehmani extending her full support to FMGs demanding equal treatment and transparency in PMDC’s policies.
In a meeting held in Islamabad, Dr. Rafey Sher, a leading advocate for FMG rights, led a delegation that met with MNA Shahida Rehmani to discuss the council’s abrupt decision to exclude graduates from multiple foreign countries — including Kyrgyzstan, China, Uzbekistan, Russia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan — from eligibility for provisional licensing.
Dr. Rafey Sher revealed that while the PMDC’s new recognition list only acknowledges institutions from the United States and the United Kingdom, it has disenfranchised thousands of Pakistani graduates who pursued medical education abroad under previously valid recognition criteria. “This arbitrary decision has left 4,000 graduates immediately affected, while nearly 40,000 students currently studying overseas face the same uncertainty,” he said.
He condemned the PMDC for issuing “unsubstantiated claims and defamatory remarks” about graduates of these foreign institutions, accusing the regulatory body of creating unnecessary barriers and damaging Pakistan’s international academic reputation.
Following the meeting, Dr. Rafey Sher held a session with members of the FMG Association, where participants unanimously demanded that PMDC reverse its exclusionary policies and reinstate previously recognized medical institutions. The association emphasized that recognition decisions must be based on transparent, merit-based, and globally aligned standards, not selective bias.
MNA Shahida Rehmani pledged her legislative and administrative support, stating that she would take up the issue in Parliament and relevant ministries to ensure FMGs are not deprived of their constitutional right to fair treatment. “Doctors trained abroad under accredited programs deserve respect, not rejection,” she said, adding that such policies risk driving talented young doctors away from serving Pakistan’s healthcare system.
Dr. Rafey Sher lauded the MNA’s stance, stating:
“The PMDC’s arbitrary barring of foreign graduates not only destroys professional careers but undermines confidence in Pakistan’s medical governance. With allies like MNA Shahida Rehmani, we are confident this injustice will be addressed, and every qualified doctor will get the opportunity to serve their nation with dignity.”
The FMG community, under Dr. Rafey Sher’s leadership, continues to mobilize across provinces, calling on PMDC to end bureaucratic discrimination and to restore provisional licensing rights for all internationally qualified graduates.
The movement marks a growing demand for transparency, accountability, and recognition of all accredited foreign medical degrees, as affected graduates warn that continued inaction could lead to mass protests, legal action, and international scrutiny of Pakistan’s medical education policies.
