Back to Pakistan
BMJ 2006; 333 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0612465 (Published 01 December 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;333:0612465
- Amin Muhammad Gadit, professor of psychiatry1
- 1Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Recent changes in the UK visa rules for doctors have created havoc among many aspiring international medical graduates (IMGs), who are now faced with a serious dilemma regarding their postgraduate career path. Many of these doctors come from developing countries and are going to suffer because competition is now tough for getting into training rotational posts. They are left with almost no choice but to go back to their country of origin or seek alternative employment elsewhere. Many of these doctors are from Pakistan.
The medical system
Currently Pakistan produces a large number of doctors, through the many private medical schools throughout the country. Karachi, Pakistan's largest and most densely populated city, has nine medical schools-three in the public sector and six in the private sector. These produce about 1400 new medical graduates every year. But the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan, based in Karachi and the only certifying body for all specialties recognises postgraduate training at only some of these institutions, including four specialised postgraduate medical bodies for rotational training leading to higher postgraduate qualifications.
Warrick Pages/Panos
Waiting for her doctor to return
These slots account for only about half of the doctors produced each year. And many of these recognised institutions do not provide adequate and up to the mark training. However, private medical …
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