KARACHI: A controversy over postgraduate medical training at one of Sindh’s largest public-sector teaching hospitals has escalated after the Young Doctors Association Sindh alleged that more than 50 FCPS and MCPS training positions at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, were filled through a process that lacked transparency and was conducted without public advertisement.
In a press release, YDA Sindh said information received by the association suggested that the allocation process may have bypassed open competition and merit-based selection mechanisms.
The association has now called on the Government of Sindh and Sindh Health Department to constitute an independent and impartial inquiry committee to investigate the allegations.
The claims are significant because they concern postgraduate training opportunities that can determine the career paths of young doctors competing for specialist training in Pakistan.
But the controversy goes beyond the number of seats involved.
At the centre of YDA Sindh’s complaint is a broader question: were all eligible doctors given an equal opportunity to compete for the available training positions?
YDA raises questions over merit and transparency
According to the association, reports indicate that more than 50 postgraduate training slots in FCPS and MCPS programmes were filled without a publicly advertised vacancy process.
YDA Sindh said that if the allegations are established, such a process would raise serious concerns over fairness, equal opportunity, transparency and institutional accountability.
The association argued that filling postgraduate training positions without publicly announcing vacancies or conducting an open competitive process could undermine confidence in merit-based recruitment at a public-sector institution.
Why FCPS and MCPS training seats matter
Postgraduate training positions are highly consequential for doctors seeking specialist qualifications.
FCPS training is associated with the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), while MCPS is another recognised postgraduate medical qualification pathway.
Access to an approved training position can therefore directly affect a young doctor’s progression toward specialist certification, clinical experience and future professional opportunities.
That is why YDA Sindh has framed the issue not simply as an administrative dispute, but as one involving the rights of eligible candidates to compete on equal terms.
YDA invokes CPSP, PMDC and government rules
The association also raised questions about whether the reported allocation process complied with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
YDA Sindh said admissions and appointments in public institutions should be conducted in accordance with government rules, court directives and the regulations of relevant professional bodies, specifically naming the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
Equal opportunity emerges as a central concern
YDA Sindh’s third major concern relates to access.
The association said any non-transparent selection process that disadvantages otherwise eligible candidates could deny young doctors fair opportunities for professional advancement.
It also warned that perceptions of unequal access could damage confidence in the broader postgraduate medical training system.
For candidates who may have been waiting for advertised training vacancies, this is potentially the most consequential element of the dispute.
If positions were available, the association’s argument is that eligible doctors should have been able to know about them and compete through a transparent selection mechanism.
Four demands put to Sindh authorities
YDA Sindh has laid out a series of specific demands rather than limiting its statement to criticism.
1. Immediate independent inquiry
The association wants the Government of Sindh and Sindh Health Department to establish an independent and impartial inquiry committee to investigate the allegations thoroughly and transparently.
That inquiry, if constituted, could determine whether the reported allocations followed applicable rules and whether the process provided a level playing field for eligible applicants.
2. Review of questioned allocations
YDA Sindh has also demanded a review of any allocations found to have been made in violation of applicable rules and procedures.
It says any such cases should then be dealt with in accordance with the law.
This means the association is not merely seeking an explanation of the process; it is asking authorities to revisit individual allocations if irregularities are established.
3. Public re-advertisement of available seats
Another major demand is that all available postgraduate training positions be publicly advertised.
YDA Sindh says this should be followed by a fair, competitive and merit-based selection process open to all eligible candidates.
For young doctors, this could become the most practically important part of the controversy if authorities ultimately decide that vacancies need to be opened or re-opened for competition.
4. Accountability and institutional transparency
The association has urged relevant authorities to take prompt notice of the matter and ensure transparency, accountability and merit in postgraduate medical training admissions.
YDA Sindh says it remains committed to protecting the rights of young doctors and strengthening public confidence in medical education and healthcare institutions.
Why the outcome could matter well beyond JPMC
The controversy comes at the intersection of three sensitive issues for young doctors: postgraduate training capacity, competition for specialist seats and trust in merit-based selection.
If an inquiry is ordered, its significance may extend beyond the individual allocations under question.
It could clarify what standards public teaching hospitals are expected to follow when filling postgraduate training positions, how vacancies should be advertised, and what safeguards are needed to ensure equal access for eligible doctors.
For candidates pursuing FCPS or MCPS training, those questions are not procedural details.
They determine who gets access to specialist training — and on what basis.
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