KP Ends Trainee Registrar Posts

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Policy Board of Medical Teaching Institutions has terminated Trainee Registrar positions in the province's medical teaching institutions. This move will leave approximately 500 Trainee Medical Officers without employment at teaching hospitals. On September 1, 2026, the board issued a directive to all Boards of Governors, instructing them to withdraw immediate advertisements for Trainee Registrar vacancies.

The board explained that institutions had been utilizing these posts to extend the training period of doctors who had completed their mandatory training but had repeatedly failed the FCPS examination. They argued that this arrangement created an imbalance, as doctors who failed the examination continued to receive additional training opportunities, while those who passed the examination were unable to access a comparable facility.

It was also noted that doctors who successfully pass the FCPS examination already have access to Experiential Registrar positions, which provide two years of clinical experience necessary for faculty appointments. The board emphasized that departments must establish clear training programs, set performance targets, and evaluate registrar progress after one year.

Unsatisfactory performance can lead to corrective action, and in cases of severe underperformance, institutions may remove the doctor from the position. All medical teaching institutions have been directed to inform serving Trainee Registrars about the decision. Current registrars may remain in their positions for a maximum of three months, provided their contracts remain valid for at least three months.

However, institutions must adhere to their legal and contractual obligations when implementing this arrangement. The decision to end Trainee Registrar positions was first reported by ProPakistani.