Amjad Mehmood
ISLAMABAD: Executive Member of the National Medical Authority, Dr. Syed Moin Ali, has announced the successful conduct and conclusion of the first National Licensing Examination (NLE) in Pakistan. The NLE as first step for medical graduates was held in 5 centres located in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karachi. The examination, which is mandated by law as per the recently promulgated regulations, is a prerequisite for medical and dental graduates to attain full licenses to practice in Pakistan.
According to the details Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) released to media, a total of 1470 students sat for the NLE Step 1. Out of the total 1160 students who have passed the examination representing 78.9 % pass percentage.
Dr. Syed Moin Ali congratulated all the qualifying graduates and on becoming the first batch of NLE graduates in Pakistan which represents a milestone and the first step on the road to ensure long term excellence in the medical profession. The commission further informed that out of total students 1164 were foreign graduates and 306 were Pakistan medical graduates with 903 foreign medical graduates passing representing a pass percentage of
77.6% and 257 Pakistan medical graduates passing and representing a pass percentage of 84 %. 1593 graduates had registered for the examination and 123 could not appear for different reason and will be rescheduled to take their exam in December 2021.
The Pakistan medical graduates who passed the NLE Step 1 will now be eligible for completion of their house jobs to apply and receive immediately their Full License to practice medicine. The foreign medical graduates who qualified for the NLE Step 1 are now eligible to appear in the NLE Step 2 (clinical skills) exam scheduled for October 2021. On qualifying the NLE Step 2 they will be eligible for a Full License on completion of house job if graduate of a List A college or a Provisional License if a graduate of a List B or List C college.
The NLE was the first computer-based examination conducted by the National Medical Authority of the PMC. The Commission authorities said that the digital format of the examination is part of PMC’s vision to promote transparency and meritocracy while setting international benchmarks of quality, skills, and competence. The commission also believes that students who appeared in the exam would have appreciated the quality of the exam and the facilities provided to them.
On the conduct of the first NLE, President Dr. Arshad Taq said, “The conduct of the first National Licensing Examination has paved the way for standardization of healthcare delivery in our nation”.