The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has appointed Dr Abdul Wali Khan as its new acting registrar, marking the fifth such appointment in a little over two years. This frequent turnover underscores the administrative instability that continues to plague the country’s top medical regulatory body. Dr Khan, who was serving at the Federal Government Polyclinic (FGPC), has joined the PMDC on a three-year deputation and was given additional charge as acting registrar on the very same day.
According to insiders in the Ministry of Health, the appointment was made under pressure from powerful elements within the federal health ministry. They claim Dr Khan does not meet the eligibility criteria, which requires at least 15 years of professional experience for the registrar’s post. His sudden elevation is being viewed as politically driven, with some alleging he was brought in to serve specific interests. Sources note that such “parachuted” appointments have become a way for certain influential quarters to control strategic posts, especially in sectors like medical education, which has become a lucrative industry for private medical entrepreneurs.
Officials within the council, speaking on condition of anonymity, have echoed concerns about persistent political interference in PMDC’s affairs. They allege that major administrative decisions are being dictated by influential individuals in the health ministry, including at least one person with no medical background but substantial informal authority. This interference, they argue, undermines the council’s autonomy and regulatory integrity.
The registrar’s office holds immense responsibility, overseeing licensing exams, the accreditation of medical and dental colleges, curriculum approvals, and day-to-day operations. According to PMDC rules, the post should be filled through a formal four-year contract, renewable once. However, since the PMDC was re-established in January 2023 following the dissolution of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), no permanent registrar has been appointed. Instead, a string of acting registrars have come and gone: Dr Salman Ahmed in January 2023, followed by Dr Azhar Ali Shah in April 2023, then Dr Imdad Khushk in October 2023, and most recently, Dr Shaista Faisal in July 2024.
Health professionals and policy analysts have raised alarms over this leadership instability, warning that it threatens the quality and credibility of medical regulation in Pakistan. A senior health policy expert remarked that the absence of consistent leadership compromises the council’s ability to uphold standards in medical institutions and licensing processes. The revolving-door approach to top appointments is not only damaging to the council’s credibility but also opens the door for bureaucratic manipulation and vested interests.
Amid this ongoing leadership vacuum, pressure is mounting for structural and governance reforms at the PMDC. Many stakeholders argue that political insulation is crucial to restoring the council’s integrity and ensuring that the regulation of medical and dental education is transparent, merit-based, and consistent.
