ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) has put doctors, dentists and specialists on notice, directing them to renew their registration certificates under the PMDC Act, 2022 and applicable rules and regulations.
The Council has advised all medical and dental practitioners to complete the renewal process within the stipulated six-month period and, particularly for those with long-outstanding renewals, has urged them not to wait until the deadline.
The move is aimed at bringing Pakistan’s professional medical and dental register up to date while strengthening regulatory oversight, protecting patients and practitioners, and preventing the misuse of professional credentials.
PMDC seeks updated record of practising doctors, dentists
PMDC said maintaining a current and verifiable register is a fundamental regulatory responsibility and is essential for ensuring that only duly registered and authorised professionals are permitted to practise.
The Council said the renewal exercise will help ensure that doctors and dentists remain compliant with the legal, professional, safety and ethical requirements governing medical and dental practice.
An accurate professional register also provides the public with greater confidence that a healthcare professional's registration status can be verified.
For practitioners, maintaining valid registration serves as evidence of their professional standing and can be important not only for practice in Pakistan but also when seeking employment, postgraduate training, licensing and other professional opportunities internationally.
Renewal aimed at curbing misuse of medical credentials
According to PMDC, the registration update is also intended to address concerns surrounding quackery, forgery, fraudulent use of registration certificates and unauthorised medical practice.
An updated database can make it more difficult for individuals to falsely claim professional credentials or misuse registration information belonging to legitimately registered practitioners.
The Council also highlighted another concern: the potential misuse of the registration certificates or professional credentials of deceased practitioners.
Regular renewal and verification of records can help PMDC identify outdated registrations and take appropriate regulatory action, strengthening the integrity of the national professional register.
Why the registration update matters to doctors, dentists
For medical and dental practitioners, registration is more than an administrative record. It establishes their regulatory standing and provides a verifiable basis for lawful professional practice.
PMDC has therefore emphasised that keeping registration valid and up to date is both a professional and ethical responsibility.
The Council's latest directive places particular importance on practitioners whose registration renewals have remained pending for a long period.
PMDC has advised such doctors and dentists to use the stipulated period to regularise their records rather than waiting until the final stage of the renewal window.
PMDC links renewal with patient protection
The Council has framed the registration exercise not only as a requirement for practitioners but also as a measure to safeguard patients.
A reliable professional register allows regulatory authorities to establish who is authorised to practise medicine and dentistry and helps strengthen accountability within the healthcare system.
PMDC said the measure is intended to protect both doctors and the public while strengthening the integrity of the medical and dental professions.
For patients, the broader objective is to ensure that the professional identity and registration status of healthcare providers can be properly verified.
Updated registration records could strengthen international opportunities
PMDC also pointed to the importance of valid registration records for doctors and dentists pursuing professional opportunities outside Pakistan.
A current and verifiable record can support practitioners when they seek employment, training, licensing or other professional opportunities internationally, where proof of professional standing and registration may be required.
The renewal process could therefore have implications beyond domestic regulatory compliance, particularly for practitioners who plan to pursue postgraduate education or professional careers abroad.
Doctors urged not to wait until the end of the period
PMDC has specifically urged all doctors and dentists, particularly those with long-outstanding renewals, to complete the process at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Council has advised practitioners not to wait until the end of the stipulated period before updating their registration.
The directive applies to medical and dental practitioners and specialists and forms part of PMDC's broader effort to maintain an accurate, current and reliable professional register.
For the doctor and dentist community, the message is clear: registration records that have remained outdated or overdue now require attention as PMDC moves to bring the national professional database up to date.
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