The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has banned establishing new medical and dental colleges and increasing student seats, for a period of three to five years due to a shortage of qualified teaching staff.
The decision was made during a recent PMDC Council meeting, where concerns were raised about the declining availability of faculty needed to uphold educational standards.
The rapid expansion of medical institutions has outpaced the supply of qualified teachers, leading to a decline in clinical training, research, and overall academic standards.
According to official data, Pakistan has 187 medical and dental colleges that require 26,018 faculty members, but only 22,146 are available, highlighting a significant shortfall. This shortage is impacting medical education quality and patient care.
PMDC has implemented a temporary halt on new colleges and seat increases to prevent further strain on faculty resources. The council believes this step will help maintain regulatory standards and ensure compliance.
Additionally, the PMDC has formally approached the National Health Services, requesting intervention to safeguard the country’s medical education system.