MNA Shahida Rehmani Voices Strong Support for Foreign Medical Graduates After Meeting Led by Dr. Rafey Sher
Islamabad— Following a detailed consultation with Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) under the leadership of Dr. Rafey Sher, MNA Shahida Rehmani issued a video message extending her complete support to the FMG community and reaffirmed her commitment to raising their concerns at all relevant parliamentary and ministerial forums.
During the meeting, Dr. Rafey Sher comprehensively outlined the challenges faced by FMGs due to the recent Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) policy changes, which have caused widespread uncertainty among thousands of qualified Pakistani doctors returning from abroad.
He recalled that when the PMDC was reconstituted in 2023, then Federal Health Minister Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel had taken a bold and practical step by continuing the list of recognized foreign medical institutions from the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) era — a move that ensured fairness, continuity, and confidence within the FMG community.
Dr. Rafey Sher stressed that the FMG community now expects a similarly decisive, transparent, and forward-looking approach from the current Health Minister Mr. Mustafa Kamal, whose broader vision for healthcare reform has been widely acknowledged. However, he expressed concern that several recent PMDC measures risk undermining that trust and require immediate policy review to avoid injustice to qualified foreign-trained doctors.
He further added that FMGs have actively engaged with parliamentarians, policymakers, and media organizations, receiving widespread backing from across the political spectrum — a sign that the issue of Pakistan’s foreign medical graduates is gaining national recognition as a matter of youth empowerment and healthcare equity.
Dr. Rafey Sher particularly praised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for its consistent advocacy of FMG rights, noting that the party has historically played a key role in resolving similar crises. He commended MNA Shahida Rehmani for her dedication and leadership in championing the concerns of young doctors and highlighted the constructive responses received from other parties including MQM, ANP, and BAP, whose policymakers have acknowledged the urgency and seriousness of the issue.
Calling it “an issue of Pakistan’s youth and future doctors,” Dr. Rafey Sher urged all institutions to approach the matter with urgency, fairness, and sincerity.
The FMG community has welcomed MNA Shahida Rehmani’s post-meeting video statement as an encouraging sign of growing cross-party consensus and a step toward a just and transparent policy framework for foreign medical graduates in Pakistan.
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