Establishing a System of Postgraduate Medical Education in Pakistan

Abstract

Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) and specialist care made a late beginning in developing countries and has progressed quite slowly, compared to the developed world. Historically, medical graduates in developing countries desiring to pursue PGME had to travel to Western centers to acquire specialist qualifications; and after having spent a significant time period it became difficult for them to return from those settings, resulting in “brain drain” from the developing nations and a loss of national resources. The status of overall medical education in Pakistan was dismal at the time of its independence in 1947. Pakistan inherited only a few undergraduate medical colleges, and none offered any postgraduate qualification. The majority of doctors seeking postgraduate education preferred to go to England and the United States. In this situation, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan (CPSP) was established in 1962 as an autonomous corporate body to cater to the needs of PGME and to provide specialists for the health care needs of the country. The college started offering fellowship and membership programs in different fields of medicine and dentistry — a hallmark of the College System of PGME, which focuses primarily upon rigorous clinical training. It has succeeded in achieving high standards in PGME and specialization, making its qualifications at par with the institutions of the developed world. This paper describes the policies and strategies adopted by the College to earn recognition for its qualifications, both within the country and in the international community.