Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday saw yet another change in its top administrative office as its leadership appointed Dr Abdul Wali Khan, Executive Deputy Director at the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, as the new ‘acting registrar’ of the medical education regulatory body, replacing Dr Shaista Faisal, who was also serving in an acting capacity.
Officials in the PMDC, who requested anonymity, claimed that Dr Abdul Wali Khan has been posted as Director Administration at PMDC on a three-year deputation from the FGPC and given the charge of acting registrar of the regulatory authority at the behest of ‘powerful quarters’ in the federal health ministry.
These officials further alleged that repeated changes in the registrar’s office reflect the influence of “a powerful outsider” in the ministry who, despite not being a medical doctor, is reportedly driving transfers, postings, and key administrative moves within the council.
This claim, while unverified officially, highlights the perception of political and bureaucratic interference in the functioning of the country’s top medical regulatory body.
Confirming the move, PMDC President Prof Rizwan Taj said the decision was a temporary arrangement. He emphasized that the council planned to advertise the registrar’s post once again to ensure the appointment of a permanent, qualified professional through a transparent and merit-based selection process, as mandated under the PMDC Act.
This latest reshuffle reflects the ongoing administrative instability at the country’s top medical regulatory body, which has been functioning without a permanent registrar for over two years. The registrar, considered the council’s highest full-time executive, is responsible for day-to-day operations, medical licensing, curriculum approvals, and oversight of both public and private medical institutions. In contrast, the PMDC president serves in an honorary capacity.
The position of registrar is supposed to be filled on a four-year contractual basis, extendable once based on performance. However, since the council’s reconstitution in January 2023, following the dissolution of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), PMDC has repeatedly relied on ad hoc arrangements.
During this period, the council has seen a carousel of acting registrars: 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. With Dr Abdul Wali Khan’s appointment, the PMDC has now witnessed its fifth acting registrar in just over two years, underscoring chronic administrative uncertainty.
The prolonged absence of a permanent registrar has raised concerns among health professionals and regulatory experts, who warn that the instability undermines the PMDC’s ability to effectively oversee medical education and professional licensing.
Key regulatory tasks, such as conducting licensing examinations, inspecting and accrediting medical and dental colleges, and updating medical curricula, are considered highly vulnerable to disruption in the absence of stable, full-time leadership.
Prof Rizwan Taj previously admitted that the council had faced repeated setbacks in hiring a suitable candidate for the registrar’s role. He noted that while the position had been advertised multiple times and interviews were conducted, the council either found the applicants unsuitable or encountered procedural delays.
He said that despite the challenges, the council remained committed to filling the position on merit to ensure the credibility and operational efficiency of Pakistan’s primary medical regulatory authority.
The leadership vacuum at the PMDC, coupled with recurrent ad hoc appointments, has prompted calls for structural and governance reforms. Health experts argue that continued reliance on acting officials exposes the council to political maneuvering, weakens regulatory oversight, and risks eroding public trust in the institution that governs medical education and professional licensing in the country.
Until a permanent registrar is appointed through a transparent process, the PMDC will remain in a state of administrative flux, leaving the future of medical regulation dependent on temporary arrangements and susceptible to external influence.
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