CPSP faces growing criticism over failure to secure international acceptability for FCPS

This is a betrayal of the very purpose CPSP was founded for,” said a senior consultant at a public hospital in Lahore.

By DTD- On Jul 17, 2025

Islamabad: The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) is facing mounting criticism from the medical community for its failure to ensure international recognition of its flagship postgraduate qualification — the Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS).
Once readily accepted for jobs without any further examinations in countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, and other parts of the Middle East, the FCPS is no more being accepted with increasing numbers of Pakistani-trained specialists are now being required to take additional licensing exams to practice abroad.

“This is a betrayal of the very purpose CPSP was founded for,” said a senior consultant at a public hospital in Lahore. “FCPS was our passport to global practice. CPSP leadership has failed to protect that status.”

Doctors have pointed to the lack of concrete agreements with foreign medical councils and health authorities as a sign of administrative incompetence of the President CPSP. Press reports in recent years highlight this growing disconnect:

• “CPSP’s FCPS losing recognition abroad: PMDC to review equivalence” – Dawn News, November 2023
• “Pakistani medical postgraduates face hurdles abroad as CPSP fails to secure recognitions” – The News, December 2023
• “CPSP comes under fire as Gulf countries tighten equivalency for FCPS holders” – The Express Tribune, March 2024

Frustrated physicians are now calling for government intervention. Many are demanding that the Federal Health Minister take immediate disciplinary action against the CPSP administration, with suggestions ranging from a formal reprimand to complete restructuring of leadership.

“If CPSP’s leadership can’t secure international agreements, they need to be replaced by people who can,” said a spokesperson for the KEMC Alumni.

The medical diaspora, once proud of Pakistan’s postgraduate training programs, is now warning that doctors are now forced to adopt lower level employment through alternative pathways through PLAB or USMLE instead of their due status of FCPS holder Postgraduates.

“It’s tragic. FCPS used to mean something,” said a Pakistani registrar in London. “Now, it’s just an extra hurdle.”

The CPSP was contacted but has not sent a formal response