Your genuine grievances will be resolved, PAMI
must maintain standards then Govt. will help you
118 Private Medical and Dental institutions have no representation in PM&DC, private health sector should not be humiliated-Ch. Abdul Rehman
Reduction in fees will compromise on quality; consultation with all the stake holders will help in implementation of decisions
There are problems but education should not be made a business
LAHORE: Situation in the country is not ideal hence how we can expect the situation in the health sector to be ideal. There has been gradual deterioration in all sections of the society. At present we are faced with too many problems and we have to find a solution. The government of Pakistan recognizes the contributions of the private health sector and we appreciate the private sector that is why I am here stated Syed Mustafa Kamal Federal Health Minister while speaking at the Third International Conference organized by Pakistan Association of Private Medical & Dental institutions jointly hosted by Superior University and University of Lahore from April 8th to April 12th 2025. This particular session was dedicated to present Healthcare Excellence Awards 2025 where representatives of the private health sector were honoured in recognition of their services. This session was held at the Superior Univesity campus. It was largely attended by owners of private medical and dental colleges and medical universities besides leadership of the public sector medical universities, some of whom were also honoured.
Syed Mustafa Kamal Federal Health Minister was the chief guest at the Healthcare Excellence Awards 2025 during the Third International Conference of PAMI. Photograph taken on the occasion shows him with the host Ch. Abdul Rehman Founder of Superior University and other leadership of the PAMI as well as Vice Chancellors of some public sector universities besides some recipients of the Awards.
Continuing Syed Mustafa Kamal said that private health sector was playing an important role in the field of medical, dental education and healthcare. There are certain challenges but I won’t comment on what has been happening in the past.
We recognize your importance and I have no personal vested interest. I have accepted this Ministry as a responsibility. In the past too I have tried to fulfill my responsibility. It is extremely important that we work together and respect each other. Health, he opined was the most dangerous ministry as we deal with ailing humanity. Any mistake can be very costly. It will take some time to improve the things. As regards representation of the private medial and dental institutions in the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council, I will look into and ask them and then share their answer with you. I personally think it should not be a problem and it will be amicably sorted out. As regards the reduction in fees, it should not and is not meant to reduce quality. However, education should not be made a business. Your genuine grievances will be looked into. If you maintain standards then we can help you.
Syed Mustafa Kamal Federal Health Minister along with Ch. Abdul Rehman
founder of Superior University presenting Award to Sumaira Rehman
Rector Superior University and Senator Amir Chishti.
Referring to the students going overseas for medical education, Syed Mustafa Kamal said that each year we lose four hundred million dollars of fees on studying overseas which needs to be checked. We need to look into it. We will listen to the private sector. There are good and bad people everywhere and it is true in case of private health sector as well. We need to identify our problems and then find a solution. As the situation stands today we will never be able to provide healthcare to the entire population as the gap is increasing with the every passing day. As such we have decided to go for aggressive use of Telemedicine. Almost 70% of the patients do not need to go to the tertiary healthcare facilities. It will also reduce rush in these hospitals. Currently we are working on a programme whereby every one should have an Electronic Medical Record number for which the NIC will be used. Discussions with NADRA at an advanced stage to impalement this. Using Telemedicine we can facilitate provision of healthcare at the doorstep of the people for which world’s best practices should be followed. We will also look into the Central Induction Policy for admission to medical & dental colleges.
Earlier Ch.Abdul Rehman Chancellor of Superior University in his welcome address said that today we have gathered to honor our heroes in the health sector who have played a vital role in the development of medical education and healthcare facilities and we acknowledge the quality of education. We have to prove that Pakistan is a living Nation which does not forget but recognize and honor its Heroes. At present the country is facing lot of economic problems. As against the WHO recommended 6% of GDP to be spent on health, we are spending just 1-2%. We have shortage of healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses, paramedics. In provision of healthcare we rank at 154 out of 195 countries.
Artificial Intelligence is now increasingly being used in healthcare for diagnosis and management of diseases but empathy is lacking. Moral values have been destroyed and are deficient. We differentiate between patients. The gap between rich and the poor is widening. Doctors issue factious medical certificates, new innovations are opposed. We try to hide our mistakes. It is extremely important that doctors should be good human beings first. We need doctors with good character. Similarly Nurses and Paramedics should also have good character. As a matter of fact becoming good human beings is the foundation of healthcare solutions. At present out of one hundred eighty four medical and dental colleges, one hundred eighteen are in the private sector and they have no representation in the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council. Private sector produces fourteen thousand doctors annually. We have forty thousand beds in our affiliated hospitals where patients get free or highly subsidized care. In our General Body Meeting today, we have come up with some suggestions for which we need government support.
- One hundred eighteen (118) private medical and dental colleges must get some representation in the PM&DC. All state holders should be consulted which will help in implementing the decisions. The lack of representation has lot of implication
- Due to central induction policy for admission to medical and dental colleges in Punjab, currently five hundred fifty MBBS and two hundred fifty BDS seats are vacant. The up gradation goes on for months wasting lot of precious time. Private sector should be allowed to admit their students.
- Please do not touch the fee structure. Let the institutions decide their own fees as reduction in fees will also compromise on quality. Government can ask for audited accounts from each institution but let them plan their own programmes, make investment to improve teaching and training facilities. Just look at the amount government spends on running a medical college and its affiliated teaching hospital. If you pay us just 50% of that amount, we will provide everything free. Private sector should not be humiliated.
- Do not insist and ask for quality standards which are not needed and not possible to provide. World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) has come up with some standards. We had our own meeting and have come up with a document which is relevant to our needs and requirements.
- Implementation of PM&DC Act should be ensured. Monopoly of just one Univesity is creating problems. Let the medical and dental colleges be free to affiliate with any university of their choice. It will encourage competition and thus improve standards.
Senator Amir Chichi also briefly addressed the participants of the meeting and remarked that Ch. Abdul Rehman in his speech has effectively conveyed our feelings and sentiments. Private sector’s representation in PM&DC needs to be looked into.
Later the Syed Mustafa Kamal presented the appreciation certificates and Mementoes among the representatives of pubic and private medical institutions. Those who were honoured included the following: - Prof. Mahwah Arooj from UOL
- Aga Khan University Hospital
- Dr.Sarwar from Rehman Medical Institute Peshawar.
- Prof. Saeed from Aziz Fatema Medical & Dental College Faisalabad.
- Shiraz Khan from Pak Int.Medical College.
- Prof. S.Razi Muhammad from Muhammad Medical College, Sindh.
- Prof. S.H. Waqar from Federal Medical College, Islamabad.
- Prof. Mahmood Ayaz from KEMU
- Sumera Rehman from Superior Univesity
- Dr. Ali Farhan from Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry.
- Prof. Rashid Mian Wateen Medical College
- Dr.Yasir Niazi Islamabad Medical & Dental College
- Azhar Jadoon Women Medical College.
- Riaz Shahbaz Janjua HBS Medical College.
- Dr. Ashraf Nizami President PMA
- Treasurer of PAMI.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Prof. Rashid Latif a distinguished Obstetrician & Gynecologist of the country who was the pioneer of IVF baby programme in Pakistan was also honoured by the organizers with Life Time Achievement Award in recognition of his services. He has now established Rashid Latif Medical & Dental College which is being upgraded as a private Rashid Latif Medical University.
