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LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has introduced Pakistan’s first-ever five-year BDS degree program. The decision was finalized during a syndicate meeting, presided over by UHS Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore.
Earlier to this decision, it was a four-year degree program all over the country while the USA, UK, and other countries were running the five-year program. As the UK, USA and other countries had the five-year BDS program, the Pakistani graduates holding four-year degree programs were asked for additional qualifications as per the policy to meet their criteria.
In some other key decisions, the syndicate also approved curricula, faculty appointments, and institutional affiliations for various programs.
To standardize clinical training for students, the syndicate, which was chaired by UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore, determined that the university should examine the status of nursing colleges in Punjab and their agreements with hospitals.
Furthermore, the approval of the implementation of brief courses in pharmacy, nursing, allied health, and BDS that are skill-based and life-saving was granted, with an estimated 150,000 students benefiting annually.
The syndicate approved the appointment of Dr. Uruj Zehra as professor of anatomy, Dr. Sumaira Ehsan as associate professor of Medical Education, Dr. Zulfiqar Ali as associate professor of forensic medicine, and Dr. Umera Saleem as associate professor of hematology, as recommended by the selection board.
Assistant professors of anatomy, hematology, medical education, forensic medicine, public health, oral biology, and nursing, as well as 13 lecturers in medical sciences, were also appointed.
The spokesperson stated that the Regulations 2024 for MS, MD, and MDS Level III and IV programs were approved during the meeting. In principle, it was determined that UHS would also provide all Level IV programs that are presently being administered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP).
The five-year BDS program framework was also finalized, and Prof. Sarah Ghafoor was appointed convener of the board of studies in dentistry and chief of the dental sciences department.
Based on the affiliation committee’s recommendations, the syndicate authorized the expansion of Akhtar Saeed Dental College’s enrolment from 50 to 75 students and the affiliation of the BS nursing programs of the Continental Institute of Nursing and the PKLI Institute of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences with UHS.
Students who complete nursing and allied health programs at PKLI will now receive degrees from UHS as a result of this decision.
The affiliation committee was led by a three-member commission consisting of Prof. Ayesha Shaukat, Prof. Soufia Farrukh, and Prof. Iqbal Hussain Dogar. The vice chancellor was granted the authority to appoint the chief of the committee based on the location of the institute to be inspected.
He stated that postgraduate residents who were admitted to Punjab’s government hospitals in 2023 and 2024 were granted provisional registration. It was determined that the amended UHS Service Statutes 2005 would be forwarded to the specialized healthcare department for further processing under the law.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nadia Naseem, Registrar Kiran Fatima, Prof. Arshad Cheema, Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Prof. Sidrah Saleem, Prof. Samina Kausar, Prof. Asif Naveed, Dr. Khalid Rahim, Prof. Maryam Malik, Mr. Haider Amin, Prof. Syed Asghar Naqi, Prof. Soufia Farrukh, and additional secretaries from the specialized healthcare and finance departments of Punjab also attended the meeting.
