Afghan Medical Graduates Denied House Jobs at Bannu Medical Institution

BANNU: The Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Bannu has abruptly terminated the house job training of all Afghan MBBS graduates, effective immediately, as per a notification issued on October 9.

The decision follows directives from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office, which prompted the dean and chief executive officer of Bannu Medical College to take this action. The notification explicitly states that the house job training for Afghan graduates currently enrolled at MTI Bannu is no longer valid.

In a related development, the training of Afghan postgraduate medical trainees at Nowshera Medical College and Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex has also been halted. A notification from the Office of the Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education, lists three affected Afghan trainees: Dr. Mohammad Sami and Dr. Mohammad Zubair, both specializing in ENT, and Dr. Husna, who is training in gynaecology and obstetrics. They have been instructed to vacate the premises immediately.

This decision raises significant concerns regarding the future of Afghan medical professionals in Pakistan, particularly in light of the ongoing political and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan. The abrupt termination of training programs not only affects the careers of these medical graduates but also poses challenges for healthcare delivery in regions where they were expected to serve. Stakeholders are now awaiting further clarifications from the PMDC and the government regarding the implications of this decision.