Graduates whose PRMP applications were rejected were originally promised full refunds of their application fees, but many did not receive reimbursements within the expected timeframe. The delay left a large number of young doctors waiting for months despite assurances from the regulatory body.
The issue was raised before the Senate Standing Committee on Health where Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto pointed out that hundreds of affected applicants remained unpaid. His intervention highlighted the administrative lapse and put pressure on the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council to act.
Following the committee notice, the PMDC initiated the refund process and has issued PRMP refunds to roughly half of the eligible graduates. A substantial cohort still awaits payment, with delays stretching beyond eight months since the initial commitment to reimburse application fees.
Dr. Rafey Sher welcomed Senator Bhutto’s timely raising of the matter at the parliamentary level and praised the PMDC President and Registrar for beginning partial refunds after the committee’s involvement. He described the action as a necessary step but not a complete resolution.
Dr. Rafey Sher urged the relevant authorities to expedite processing of the remaining claims without further delay, noting that affected graduates have already endured an extended and unjustified wait. He called for clear timelines and consistent follow-through to prevent similar breakdowns in administrative promises.
Restoring confidence among medical graduates will require completion of the outstanding PRMP refunds and improved transparency and accountability in future procedures. Graduates and stakeholders will expect the PMDC to finalize reimbursements promptly and communicate progress clearly.
