ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) on Tuesday directed all medical and dental practitioners, including specialists, to renew their registration certificates within six months to ensure compliance with national laws and professional standards.
The council said the measure, taken under the PM&DC Act, 2022 and relevant rules and regulations, was aimed at keeping the country’s professional register accurate and up to date while strengthening safeguards for patients and practitioners.
PM&DC urged doctors and dentists to complete the renewal process as early as possible rather than waiting until the six-month deadline. According to the council, maintaining a current and verifiable register is a fundamental regulatory requirement and helps ensure that only duly registered and authorised professionals are allowed to practise medicine and dentistry.
The renewal drive is also intended to address concerns surrounding quackery, forged credentials, fraudulent use of registration certificates and unauthorised medical practice, PM&DC said.
An updated database would make it harder for individuals to falsely claim professional credentials or misuse registration certificates, while enabling the council to identify outdated records and take appropriate regulatory action.
The council also highlighted the need to prevent the misuse of the professional credentials of deceased practitioners. Regular renewal and verification of registration records, it said, would provide an additional safeguard against such practices.
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PM&DC said valid registration was not only a legal requirement but also part of a doctor’s professional and ethical responsibility. Keeping registration records current would provide verifiable evidence of a practitioner’s professional standing and could also assist doctors seeking employment, training, licensing or other professional opportunities abroad.
The council particularly urged practitioners whose registrations have not been renewed for a long period to use the six-month period to complete the process without delay.
PM&DC said the initiative was ultimately intended to protect patients, safeguard legitimate practitioners and strengthen public confidence in Pakistan’s medical and dental regulatory system.
