Pakistan allows two doctors to complete postgraduate training — Dawn

In Pakistan, a medical tribunal has allowed two doctors undergoing postgraduate training to continue their preparation and take their final examinations, despite a two-year suspension of their medical practice licences. The decision is temporary and will remain in effect while appeals against the disciplinary sanctions are being considered.

As Dawn reports, the three-member tribunal, chaired by retired judge Safdar Saleem Shahid, granted the same temporary permission to Dr Tayyaba Fatima Toor and Dr Muhammad Essa.

Limits of the decision

The tribunal suspended the effect of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council's disciplinary decision of July 28, 2026, only to the extent necessary to continue and complete postgraduate academic and training programmes and to sit final examinations.

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At the same time, the tribunal did not overturn the disciplinary findings or restore the doctors' unrestricted right to medical practice. It specifically noted that the temporary permission does not entitle the appellants to independent clinical practice until a final decision is made on their appeals.

Proceedings over the video

Toor and Essa were among five postgraduate trainees whose cases drew attention after a video recorded during an operation at Lady Willingdon Hospital in Lahore was circulated on social media. In April 2026, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council said that the five doctors had undergone preliminary review, after which the materials were referred to the disciplinary committee.

According to information provided to the tribunal by lawyers, both appellants had already largely completed the required training and passed an intermediate component of the programme. The final postgraduate examinations are due to take place in approximately four months. The tribunal stated that missing them could result in the loss of an academic opportunity that would be difficult to restore even if the appeal succeeded.