LAHORE: The provincial admission committee for medical and dental colleges has recommended punitive action against the private medical and dental colleges which are not transferring the fee of upgraded candidates to their respective colleges in sheer violation of rules and regulations.
The meeting was held at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Friday under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof. Javed Akram. The meeting decided to take up the matter in UHS syndicate meeting. On the occasion, Vice Chancellor UHS Prof. Javed Akram said that the admitted students are upgraded to other colleges according to their merit. No college can legally withhold student fees for such upgrades.
The admission committee recommended that the matter may also be taken up with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). The committee members were informed that complaints have been received from students that some private medical colleges have increased fees during the session against the law.
On this, the UHS VC said the complaints of these students have been heard on the order of Lahore High Court. The matter will be discussed at the PMDC Admission Board meeting on July 13.
Dr Allah Rakha, head of the UHS admission team, told the committee that admissions were delayed this year due to litigation and later because of Covid-19. And now, he added, as the period of three months has already lapsed, some colleges are not refunding fees to students who have had their admissions revoked.
On this, Professor Javed Akram said that people are facing an extraordinary situation due to coronavirus. Colleges should not ignore this and students should be allowed to get their fee refunded.
It was decided in the meeting that since the Lahore High Court had cancelled the admission list issued on January 29, the colleges should immediately refund the fees to the students of that list who opted not to continue their studies.
In addition, the fees of the students who have cancelled their admission in writing should also be refunded in view of hardship being faced due to coronavirus.
Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore Prof. Arif Tajmal, Registrar UHS Dr. Asad Zaheer and Punjab Health Department representative attended the meeting while President Private Association of Medical Institutions (PAMI) Dr. Javed Asghar and Member PMDC Prof. Tanveer Khaliq also participated through video link.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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