KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has urged the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) to implement a comprehensive enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with stipend policies for FCPS and MCPS postgraduate trainees, warning that notifications alone are insufficient without concrete action.
In a letter addressed to CPSP President, PMA Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro welcomed the college’s recent notification issued on May 30, 2026, reminding accredited institutions to comply with trainee stipend regulations.
However, the association expressed concern that similar directives in the past had failed to produce meaningful results due to weak implementation and oversight.
The PMA said postgraduate residents continue to face delayed payments, underpayment, and denial of their financial rights, particularly in private-sector healthcare institutions where trainee doctors are often required to work under demanding conditions for salaries below approved standards.
The association questioned who would be responsible for enforcing the directive and ensuring that institutions violating stipend policies are held accountable. It argued that warnings regarding possible impacts on accreditation status must be backed by immediate and decisive action.
To strengthen compliance, the PMA proposed several measures, including the establishment of an independent anonymous digital portal through which trainees could report violations without fear of retaliation. It also called for the immediate suspension of training slots and accreditation for institutions found breaching stipend regulations.
Additionally, the PMA recommended the formation of a joint monitoring committee comprising representatives from CPSP, PMA and provincial health authorities to conduct random financial audits of hospital payrolls and verify whether trainees are receiving the stipends mandated under CPSP policy.
Describing postgraduate trainees as the backbone of Pakistan’s healthcare system, the PMA said their exploitation must end and urged CPSP to provide an urgent enforcement roadmap detailing how stipend violations will be identified, investigated and penalized.
The letter was copied to the CPSP Executive Council and provincial health secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
