Islamabad: Pakistan’s top medical regulator has raised alarm over what it describes as the growing and unsafe clinical role of allied health professionals, warning that pharmacists, psychologists and dental technologists are increasingly performing functions reserved for licensed doctors and dentists, posing serious risks to patient safety and public health.
In a formal communication dated April 21, 2026, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) wrote to the Ministry of National Health Services, calling for urgent intervention to curb what it termed “unauthorised clinical practice” across the country. The council said it had taken serious notice of the issue in its meeting held on April 16 and sought immediate regulatory action.
The letter highlights multiple instances where allied health professionals were reportedly prescribing medicines, making independent diagnoses, and even carrying out medical or dental procedures, practices that fall outside their legally defined scope. The council warned that such violations were contributing to unsafe healthcare practices and could be linked to the continued spread of infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis.
Officials noted that recent reports of HIV and hepatitis cases, particularly from Islamabad and Mirpurkhas, had intensified concerns about weak oversight and lapses in infection prevention protocols. According to the PMDC, these developments underline the need for strict enforcement of professional boundaries and adherence to defined scopes of practice.
Under the PMDC Act, 2022, the council maintains the official register of qualified medical and dental practitioners and holds exclusive authority over clinical practice, including diagnosis, prescription and treatment. The law clearly states that only practitioners registered with the PMDC are authorised to practice medicine or dentistry, prescribe allopathic medicines, and perform surgical or interventional procedures.
The council pointed out that violations of these provisions are punishable under the law. It cited specific sections of the Act, noting that false representation as a registered practitioner, including misuse of the title “doctor,” is a criminal offence, while engaging in medical or dental practice without valid registration also carries penalties.
At the same time, the PMDC clarified that the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC), established under a separate legal framework, is mandated to regulate allied health workers in supportive, technical and ancillary roles. However, it stressed that the AHPC’s mandate does not extend to independent clinical functions such as diagnosis, prescribing medicines or conducting invasive procedures.
The letter urged the AHPC to ensure that its policies and regulatory measures remain within the limits of its enabling law and do not inadvertently allow encroachment into the domain of licensed doctors and dentists. It called for clear directives to all allied health professionals to refrain from undertaking restricted functions.
“These include independent clinical diagnosis, prescription of medicines or therapeutic interventions, performance of medical or surgical procedures, and any act requiring independent clinical judgement reserved for licensed practitioners,” the council noted.
The PMDC warned that any regulatory instrument or notification that directly or indirectly permits such practices would not only violate the PMDC Act but also undermine the country’s healthcare regulatory framework and endanger patient safety.
The development comes at a time when Pakistan’s healthcare system is already under strain from a rising burden of infectious diseases, growing antimicrobial resistance, and uneven enforcement of medical standards across provinces. Experts have repeatedly linked unsafe injection practices, unqualified practitioners and weak regulatory oversight to the transmission of blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis.
Public health specialists say that in many parts of the country, especially underserved areas, patients often seek care from individuals who are not fully qualified to provide clinical services, either due to lack of access to licensed doctors or cost considerations. This has created a parallel, largely unregulated layer of healthcare delivery.
The PMDC’s intervention is being seen as an attempt to reassert regulatory control and clarify professional boundaries at a time when overlapping mandates between different health councils have led to confusion on the ground.
Copies of the letter have been sent to provincial and regional healthcare commissions, health departments, the Higher Education Commission, and recognised universities and medical and dental colleges, indicating that the council is seeking a coordinated national response.
Health officials in Islamabad said the matter is likely to be taken up at the federal level for policy alignment between the PMDC and the AHPC to ensure that patient safety is not compromised while also addressing workforce gaps in the health system.
The issue also raises broader questions about regulation, training and utilisation of allied health professionals in Pakistan, with experts arguing that while their role is critical, it must remain clearly defined and properly supervised to avoid harm to patients and erosion of professional standards.
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