World Federation for Medical Education declares Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) eligible for recognition. The initial process for recognition is initiated by PMC and now the recognition will be awarded after a thorough inspection of PMC’s regulatory system and physical inspection of medical colleges recognized by PMC.
PMC issued a press release today regarding its eligibility for WFME recognition. The press release states that Pakistan Medical Commission had after completing the mandatory requirements to be eligible for WFME recognition of its Accreditation Program applied to WFME to initiate the process. In the first step, WFME after assessing the PMC's application has approved its eligibility for WFME recognition of PMC as an accrediting body and its Accreditation program.
PMC and WFME will now coordinate to schedule the visit of WFME's international assessors who will undertake a site visit to Pakistan to inspect the PMC and its entire regulatory systems as well as physically inspect multiple colleges recognized by PMC. The entire process including physical site assessment and inspection is expected to be completed within 12 months and certainly before 2024.
WFME recognition of PMC and its Accreditation Program will enable all colleges recognized and accredited by PMC to be considered as WFME accredited and graduates of these colleges licensed by PMC would have the ability to train and work in the USA and internationally without any restriction. Currently, Pakistan Medical Commission and the Sri Lankan Medical Council are the only two medical regulators in South Asia who have been found eligible by WFME for its recognition process. PMC will be launching next week an extensive National Recognition Program for the WFME recognition focusing on assisting all medical colleges in capacity building so as to ensure every college meets the new 2022 Accreditation Standards which are key to the WFME recognition.
In addition, the Pakistani doctors association in the USA, APPNA, has agreed to provide its continued support to PMC to achieve the WFME recognition with its members providing their time and resources to assist in the national program being launched by PMC. PMC has been striving to complete the mandatory requirements and develop the standards as per not only WFME standards but also international best practices and ensuring that medical education is put on a path of constant improvement and attaining internationally recognized quality as well as ensuring that Pakistan's medical education and doctors are duly recognized internationally.
