PAMI president warns of conspiracy against private medical colleges

Lahore (Web Desk): Professor Dr. Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, President of the Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAMI), stated that private medical colleges are facing serious difficulties as a conspiracy is conspiracy to destroy medical and dental education.

Addressing a press conference after the general body meeting of the PAMI, he said that a new session in private medical colleges could not be initiated start even after four months.

Professor Dr. Chaudhry Abdul Rehman further mentioned that, on one hand, the privatization of Jinnah Hospital is underway, while on the other, private medical and dental colleges are being destroyed.

He emphasized that the government should not harm the private sector in pursuit of cheap popularity.

The PAMI president urged the government not to compromise the quality of education for the sake of fixing the fees.

He clearly expressed concern over the ongoing attempts to undermine these institutions.

“Such actions not only threaten the quality of medical education but will also impact the students currently enrolled in these colleges,” he noted.

Professor Dr. Chaudhry Abdul Rehman added that PAMI trains 11,000 students to become doctors every year, and while Aitchison College charges fees at its discretion, why are private medical colleges not allowed to do the same?

He pointed out that in India, the average fee for medical colleges is between Rs4 million to Rs8 million, but private medical colleges in Pakistan are being treated unfairly.

Private medical colleges have consistently strived to enhance their standards and have played a significant role in the public health sector.

“If these institutions continue to face such detrimental effects, it could pose a serious challenge to the entire educational system,” the PAMI president said he said.

Professor Dr. Chaudhry Abdul Rehman urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take notice of the issue and demanded formation of a committee to investigate who is behind the destruction of private medical and dental colleges.

“If our demands are not met, PAMI will lock the colleges and take to the streets, he warned.