Foreign Medical Graduates Raise Alarm Over Multiple Exams and Delayed Refunds
Foreign Medical Graduates Raise Alarm Over Multiple Exams and Delayed Refunds
Islamabad: The Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) community has formally expressed serious concerns over recent regulatory measures introduced by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), stating that the new framework has created examination redundancy, financial burden, and prolonged uncertainty for young doctors awaiting house job placements.
According to the FMG community, under the revised policy, candidates are required to clear the National Registration Examination (NRE) Step 1 and Step 2 before beginning their mandatory house job training. While acknowledging the importance of maintaining professional standards, graduates say the abrupt implementation of the policy caused a delay of nearly seven to eight months, resulting in professional stagnation and financial stress.
The situation has further complicated after some hospitals introduced an additional induction examination, even for candidates who had already passed both the theoretical and clinical components of the NRE. FMGs argue that this effectively creates a third layer of assessment, making the process redundant rather than strengthening quality assurance.
The financial implications are also significant. Candidates pay Rs. 20,000 for NRE Step 1, Rs. 20,000 for NRE Step 2, Rs. 10,000 for a temporary license (PRMP), and an additional Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 for hospital-level examinations. The cumulative cost exceeds Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 70,000, excluding preparation and other related expenses.
The FMG community has recommended that either the NRE qualification be considered sufficient for house job eligibility or that hospital-level induction examinations be waived for candidates who have already qualified the NRE. They have also called for a fixed and transparent timeline for house job allocations to prevent future delays.
In a related concern, approximately 700 FMGs had earlier paid Rs. 10,000 each for temporary house job licenses before enforcement of the revised NRE policy. Following the policy change, PMDC publicly assured that these payments would be refunded. However, several months later, refunds have yet to be processed.
The community has urged immediate action, recommending an audit and public update on the refund status, along with a clearly defined refund timeline not exceeding 30 days.
Dr. Rafey Sher, representing stakeholders within the FMG community, expressed confidence that higher authorities would take timely notice of the matter and ensure a fair and transparent resolution. He reiterated that once graduates successfully pass the prescribed examinations, they fulfill all required professional standards, and equal, non-discriminatory implementation of policies is essential for merit-based progression and strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system.
