Abolition of trainee registrar posts in MTIs causes unrest among doctors in KP

PESHAWAR: The Policy Board’s decision to eliminate trainee registrar positions at medical teaching institutions (MTIs) has sparked discontent among medical professionals, who worry it could harm patient care. Two days ago, the MTI-Policy Board announced plans to scrap the trainee registrar (TR) roles and instructed medical institutions to discontinue TR-related advertisements and terminate current TR contracts.

The Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) has voiced its concerns and urged the board to reconsider the decision, arguing it would disrupt patient care at educational hospitals. The PDA claims the TR roles are a deceptive route for aspiring medical officers (TMOs) who have completed their training but have yet to pass their FCPS exams.

The Policy Board chair, Prof Nausherwan Burki, stated the TR posts exist to satisfy PMDC requirements for faculty positions and are occupied by newly qualified doctors with FCPS credentials. He noted that the TR positions lack clear objectives and do not necessitate an FCPS qualification. The Policy Board explains that these posts were established for FCPS-qualified doctors who need two years of experience to meet PMDC standards for faculty positions.

The board stated that the TR progress would be evaluated annually, with removal from the position if significant progress is not observed. The TR roles were approved by the Policy Board in recent years for those who completed FCPS training but failed to pass the exams, promising them a chance to become TRs with the expectation of passing the exams within two years.

The PDA and Young Doctors Association (YDA) have condemned the board’s decision, criticizing them for eliminating a valuable resource for healthcare while thousands of doctors remain jobless.