Opinion and Debate: Professional competence assessment: Is it a wakeup call for Pakistan?

There are a number of reports about medical malpractice in Pakistan. Every now and again media would report negligence by doctors leading to deaths or complications. The regulatory bodies elsewhere are now taking the matter of periodic competence assessment of doctors in order to ensure safety of patients. It is high time when Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) should take this matter on board. The total number of registered medical practitioners is 119083 and the specialists are 23709, totaling 142, 792 doctors excluding the registered dentists.