Navigating postgraduate inductions requires careful attention to regulatory compliance to ensure your hard work translates into a valid, recognized qualification. The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) has recently issued a critical Doctors Alert regarding several universities offering unrecognized postgraduate programs to MBBS and BDS doctors.

If you are currently planning your postgraduate trajectory or are already enrolled in a program, it is vital to review this update carefully to protect your career.

The Core Issue

After a careful review of their records, the PM&DC has officially notified the medical community that certain universities have been offering and awarding postgraduate degrees and diplomas without fulfilling the mandatory accreditation requirements outlined in Section 25 of the PM&DC Act, 2022.

List of Unrecognized Universities

The PM&DC has explicitly identified the following ten universities as offering unapproved postgraduate programs for medical and dental practitioners:

1. TIMES University, Multan
2. NUR International University, Lahore
3. Gomal University, D.I. Khan
4. Sohail University, Karachi
5. Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur
6. Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan
7. University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad
8. University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, AJK
9. Hazara University, Mansehra
10. Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat

The Legal Framework & Directives

According to the notification, any institution seeking to offer postgraduate medical or dental qualifications must apply for and receive formal recognition from the PM&DC prior to commencing the program.

Furthermore, Section 34 of the PM&DC Act, 2022 strictly prohibits:

• The establishment or operation of any training institution for medical/dental qualifications without prior PM&DC recognition.
• Universities from granting affiliation to unrecognized institutions or programs.

The PM&DC has directed all listed universities to immediately discontinue these unrecognized programs. Degree-awarding institutions are forbidden from advertising, launching, or conducting any postgraduate medical or dental training without prior formal recognition.

Severe Implications for Trainees and Residents

This is the most critical takeaway for all current and prospective postgraduate trainees: If you are an MBBS or BDS doctor currently enrolled in a postgraduate program offered by any of the aforementioned universities, your training will not be considered valid. The PM&DC has clearly stated that qualifications obtained from these unrecognized programs will not be registered. 

Final Guidance Investing years of your life into a residency or diploma only to find out it cannot be registered is a devastating setback. Always thoroughly verify the PM&DC accreditation status of both the university and the specific specialty program before securing admission. Protect your time, effort, and future career by staying informed.