As we all know in the year 2005 Pakistan was struck by a terrible earthquake which resulted in uncountable and immeasurable damage to our nation and country. Cuba was one of the first country in bringing its support. The support was not limited to promises and words, it was a practical support as that Latin nation sent a contingent of more than 2000 health workers (including doctors, specialists, nurses and other technicians) working in the terrible weather, moreover they donated 31 mobile hospitals with all equipment to our country. Cuban president of that time, His Excellency Mr. Fidel Castro Ruz after seeing the dire need of doctors in our country, offered scholarship for 1000 Pakistani deserving students. This offer was accepted with immense gratitude and in the year 2007 the first batch of Pakistani young students selected on merit basis by the HEC reached Cuba. After this two more batches were sent to Cuba to study this noble profession. The first batch has completed the course of study and has returned back to Pakistan.
Now the problem is these 295 young doctors are ready to work and serve the nation, prepared to work in all kind of circumstances with all the human values taught to them by the Cuban nation. However they are facing difficulties.The first hurdle is the PMDC NEB exam. An exemption has been demanded by these students on following grounds:
1.
All the students were selected on merit basis by HEC and were sent by the permission of Government of Pakistan. It was not like other Pakistani students who go to China, Ukraine or other central Asian states on their own expenses on self-finance basis.
2.
Among developing countries Cuba has one of the best health indicators, comparable to that of USA, Canada and the European states. A detailed study was done comparing all the health facilities and indicators of Cuba with that of Pakistan and other developed countries which showed clearly the difference. WHO has acknowledged on various occasions the goals achieved by Cuban government in this field. They have eradicated many diseases like malaria, polio, yellow fever, and measles since a very long time. They have one of the best primary healthcare system in the world.
3.
Cuban degree is recognized in 31 countries including Spain, Germany, Ireland, Argentina, Mexico, Yemen,Ecuador, Venezuela, South Africa and many other countries of different regions of the world. These countries don’t demand any kind of entrance test for the students who have done there medicine from Cuba.
4.
Right now Cuban doctors are working in South Africa, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Brazil etc. in a mutual contract between Cuba and these nations. Their work has been applauded on every occasion.
5.
During the stay of the Pakistani students, they studied in a University affiliated with two clinical and surgery hospital, a children hospital, a maternity hospital and various polyclinics. They got the chance to rotate in all these hospitals. They worked in the communities too and has watched how Cubans have achieved such great goals in a short period of time.
6.
A great sum of money was invested by Government of Pakistan and HEC in this scholarship as it was a fully funded scholarship. Now the students have returned back and they are ready in serving the nation which really need qualified doctors.
7.
In every street and corner of the country there are quakes playing with lives of our countrymen, there is no accountability no investigation of this issue.
8.
In various countries of the world, medical students on their return do a SOCIAL SERVICE. Social service is basically a 6 month duty which is performed by the incoming doctors. Government places doctors where they are needed with a temporary license and after completion of their social service they are given the permanent license (example Bolivia, Mexico, Ecuador etc.). These students have made a similar proposal to work for 6 months in countryside on whatever conditions placed by the government as a social service.
9.
In past, PMDC has recognized some Chinese medical universities and students from these universities used to practice medicine in Pakistan without any NEB (national examination board) exam.
10.
Although we have a lot of opportunities to work as a doctor in abroad but we came in Pakistan to serve the nation where there is short of doctors and brain drain of health professionals is going day by day.
11.
We should be treated like other Pakistani doctor who do their degrees in Pakistani medical colleges we have same right like them because Govt. of Pakistan invested millions of rupees on us.
12.
If students are not exempted from this exam at least 1 year of their lives will be wasted. In this 1 year they can work in fields and help the people which need them.
13.
On completion of the 5 years of medicine and 1 year house job, all these Pakistani students have appeared in a Cuban State Exam, which is a comprehensive exam. In this exam all Pakistani students have performed excellently, and have set an example with in Cuba.
14.
On various occasions, Government of Cuba has invited Pakistani professionals to visit and see all the health and medical education system in order to see the quality of education provided to the Pakistani students but no such visit was made. Many politicians visited Cuba and promised to raise the issue in Pakistan.
15.
A detailed report was made by the Pakistani students explaining all details and proofs, about why the exemption should be made. This report is attached with this document.
16.
We demand special attention of prime minister of Pakistan to solve this national issue.
In short, these Pakistani young doctors demand equal rights as the Pakistani students who study in Government institutions as they were too selected by the Government of Pakistan. NEB test is specially designed for those students who go to foreign countries on their own expenses and are not selected by the government of Pakistan. By exempting the NEB exam the young recently graduated doctors who have spent 7 years in foreign land and who are full of passion and enthusiasm to serve thetir own country will be able to start practicing this noble profession to save lives and to play their role in improving the health conditions of Pakistan which are in a deplorable state right now. These students have no greed about monetary benefits, what they demand is a permission to work. They are ready to work in villages, mountains, wherever country needs them. They must not be neglected, so that their talent can be utilized and a possible brain drain can be prevented.
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