Islamabad (Urdu Point / Pakistan Point News – March 19, 2026) Pakistan The 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 the growing mismatch between the number of medical graduates and available training places was creating a serious bottleneck in the healthcare system.
This recommendation was made during a PM&DC Council meeting, where members conducted a comprehensive review of the country’s postgraduate medical training capabilities.
Over the past two decades, Pakistan has made remarkable progress in the field of university medicine educationproducing an increasing number of graduates every year. However, this expansion has not been matched by a corresponding increase in structured and funded postgraduate training opportunities.
your a resultThousands of qualified physicians compete annually for a limited number of residency positions, especially in the public sector, where most accredited training programs are located.
The Council noted that the main problem does not lie in the supply of medical graduates, but rather in the lack of training positions and clear employment paths.
PM&DC also highlighted that this imbalance is the main driver behind the growing 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 financing of postgraduate training posts falls within the purview of district governments, which manage public sector hospitals, including tertiary care institutions, district headquarters (DHQs) and tehsil headquarter hospitals (THQs).
PM&DC Chairman Professor Dr Rizwan Taj said the Council unanimously recommended a significant increase in postgraduate training opportunities.
He proposed expanding jobs – and perhaps doubling them – in a gradual and financially sustainable way, in line with the annual production of medical graduates and evolving health care needs.
He stressed the need to upgrade DHQs and THQs into accredited training centers in line with PM&DC standards, enabling them to contribute effectively to higher education.
The Council also stressed the need to link postgraduate training opportunities to transparent, merit-based career progression pathways within the public health system.
This would help retain skilled professionals and enhance healthcare delivery at secondary and tertiary levels.
Dr. Taj noted that expanding the scope of postgraduate training will not only accommodate more graduates within Pakistan, but will also help address the shortage of qualified faculty members in medical institutions, as today’s trainees become tomorrow’s teachers and specialists.
The PM&DC said that these recommendations are in the broader public interest, and aim to correct workforce imbalances, strengthen institutional capacity, and reduce the ongoing migration of trained medical professionals – while fully respecting the constitutional roles of both the Council and the provincial governments.