"Pakistan Medical Association feels perplexed and disappointed to learn about the promulgation of the Presidential Ordinance regarding the PMDC by a person who himself belongs to medical profession," said Dr. Ikram Ahmed Tunio President PMA and Dr. Qaisar Sajjad, Secretary General PMA while speaking at a press conference at PMA House here on Wednesday said.
Dr. Khalil Muqaddam, President PMA Karachi, and other office-bearers were also present on the occasion.
According to this ordinance there will be 17 member council NOMINATED by either Prime Minister of Pakistan or Provincial Governments, CPSP and Armed Forces.
PMA being the largest stake holder and the only representative organization of the doctors, outrightly rejects this ordinance and believes that it will be a big disaster for PMDC itself, medical education and health care of the county< they said.
They said the one and the big question regarding the ordinance remains to be answered, is that it is in total violation of PMDC Ordinance 1962 in which the composition of the council will be some nominations and rest of the members elected by the doctors of the country, so that it could be a representative regulatory body. (Section 3, PMDC Ordinance 1962).
They said undemocratic maneuvers from a democratically elected government are not expected.
They said PMA has always stressed upon to make PMDC an autonomous, independent, transparent, democratic and vibrant body to look after the related issues in a democratic and transparent way. "We think that the proposed nominated 17 member body will be a continuation of the mess which we are witnessed for decades," they said. In those days PMDC was run by either illegal occupants of the offices or a mafia supported by the big wigs of the country, they added.
"Now, it is the time to learn from the history and stop meddling with in this regulatory body and save our future generations from total destruction as far as medical education is concerned."
They said PMA will put all its acts together to stop this useless ordinance to be passed by the both houses of the parliament at every level.
PMA also requests the civil society and the saner elements to come forward and raise their voice against this illegal, unconstitutional and destructive ordinance to be enforced in near future, they said.
"PMA proposes to the present day government to refrain from implementing this controversial ordinance," they said, adding that PMA wants an immediate elections as per constitution of PMDC and elected body should manage the affairs of PMDC as independent, transparent, democratic and vibrant body.