PM&DC calls for expansion of postgraduate medical training

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2026) The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has urged provincial health departments to significantly expand postgraduate (PG) residency training positions across the country.

The council said that a growing mismatch between the number of medical graduates and available training slots is creating a serious bottleneck in the healthcare system.

The recommendation was made during a PM&DC Council meeting, where members conducted a comprehensive review of the country’s postgraduate medical training capacity.

Over the past two decades, Pakistan has made notable progress in undergraduate medical education, producing an increasing number of graduates each year. However, this expansion has not been matched by a corresponding increase in structured and funded postgraduate training opportunities.

As a result, thousands of qualified doctors compete annually for a limited number of residency positions—particularly in the public sector, where most accredited training programs exist.

The Council noted that the core issue lies not in the supply of medical graduates, but in the shortage of training positions and clear employment pathways.

PM&DC also highlighted that this imbalance is a key driver behind the rising trend of medical professionals leaving Pakistan in search of better training and career prospects abroad.

Under the PM&DC Act, 2022, the Council is responsible for regulating standards, accreditation, and recognition of medical and dental education.

The establishment and funding of postgraduate training positions fall under the jurisdiction of provincial governments, which manage public sector hospitals, including tertiary care institutions, District Headquarters (DHQs), and Tehsil Headquarters (THQs) hospitals.

PM&DC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj stated that the Council has unanimously recommended a substantial increase in postgraduate training slots.

He suggested that positions be expanded—potentially doubled—in a phased and financially sustainable manner, aligned with the annual output of medical graduates and evolving healthcare needs.

He emphasized the need to upgrade DHQs and THQs into accredited training centers in line with PM&DC standards, enabling them to contribute effectively to postgraduate education.

The Council also stressed that postgraduate training opportunities should be linked with transparent, merit-based career progression pathways within the public health system.

This would help retain skilled professionals and strengthen healthcare delivery at both secondary and tertiary levels.

Dr. Taj noted that expanding postgraduate training would not only accommodate more graduates within Pakistan but also help address the shortage of qualified faculty in medical institutions, as today’s trainees become tomorrow’s educators and specialists.

The PM&DC said that these recommendations are in the broader public interest, aimed at correcting workforce imbalances, enhancing institutional capacity, and curbing the ongoing migration of trained medical professionals—while fully respecting the constitutional roles of both the Council and provincial governments.