The decision was spurred by growing concerns about the quality of instruction at some international dental and medical institutions, and it will go into effect in the 2024–2025 academic year. “Many students have been enrolling in colleges and universities that are not recognized in the host countries,” said officials.
In-depth discussion of the announcement was had on the most recent “News Podcast” episode. The Pattern-in-Chief of Foreign Doctors, Dr. Zeeshan Malik, and senior journalist Muhammad Asim Siddique brought attention to concerning instances of violence against Pakistani and other foreign students in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Siddique urged the PMDC and Ministry of Health to enforce the NOC requirement and set up a reliable track and trace system for Pakistani students studying overseas.
The new policy was confirmed by representatives of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS,R&C), who also emphasized that further actions are being considered.
These actions are intended to guarantee that Pakistani students attend reputable universities and receive a top-notch education. An NHS,R&C official reaffirmed, “No Pakistani student will be allowed to go abroad for medical education without a NOC from the PMDC.”
Based on government data, approximately 3,000 Pakistani students study medicine and dentistry abroad each year, mostly in China. Other Central Asian countries that rank higher on the list include Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Popular travel locations also include Russia, Ukraine.
