KARACHI:Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) had its biennial central council meeting and biennial general assembly meeting at PMA House Karachi. It was both physically and virtually attended by good number of delegates across the country.
The constitutional agenda was followed in these meetings. Different reports based on two years activities of the association were presented by Secretary General PMA Dr SM Qaisar Sajjad and were unanimously adopted by the Central Council Meeting.
The scrutiny process of nomination papers for elections of the national office bearers of central PMA, for the term 2020-2022, was done at the Central Council then in General Body Meeting following Office Bearers were elected unopposed and declared Successful.
The names of office-bearers of PMA Centre; President Dr Salma Aslam Kundi (from KPK), Hon President-Elect Dr Hameed Ullah Khan (from Balochistan), Hon Secretary General Dr SM Qaisar Sajjad (from Sindh), Hon Treasurer Dr Qazi M Wasiq (from Sindh), Hon Joint Secretary-I Dr Amir Saleem (from Punjab), Hon Joint Secretary-II Dr Akbar Ali Soomro (from Sindh) and Hon Chairman Dr Sarwar Jamil Siddiqui (from, Sindh). The Editorial Board -JPMA.
Other than the official business at meetings, PMA also lauded and remembered the services of doctors who died fighting bravely in war against Corona virus. Fateh was offered for the departed souls of these martyrs.
During the meeting doctors were requested to take care of themselves, do not examine patients without wearing PPEs. The life of the doctor is very much important for the nation during this difficult time. They should avoid shaking hands, they should also avoid going into any function
The participants of the meeting also showed their concern over the rapid increase of Covid-19 patients throughout the country during this second wave of pandemic. They demanded to increase the testing capacity and strict implementation of SOPs.
The meeting also requested public to follow SOPs strictly. Wear mask whenever you go out, keep social distancing, wash your hands/sanitize after regular intervals.
The meeting also took notice of the chaos at Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) and deteriorating standard of medical education in the country. It is very disappointing that the Vice President of PMC who is layer by profession is running the affairs of PMC single handedly, thus its one man show, which is not acceptable.
PMC was not able to conduct MDCAT Exam for last six months and thus wasted students’ precious time. Now after six months they have conducted much unorganized Exam. It is full of flaws. In many cases names against roll numbers are written wrongly and many students who appeared in the exam are shown absent. Students and parents are protesting against this exam.
The meeting unanimously demanded from the government to abolish PMC and restore PMDC. PMA believes that government should spend more on prevention of diseases rather than curative side.