ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Friday called for a comprehensive review of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) policy framework, reforms to ensure uniformity in the medical admissions process across Pakistan, and an evaluation of the transparency of MDCAT fee structures.
This was recommended by a Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services and Regulations, which met here on Friday under the convenorship of Senator Anusha Rehman. The panel reviewed preparedness for the upcoming MDCAT 2026, discussed the existing MDCAT policy framework, where 50 percent weightage is allocated to the MDCAT test, which is not tutored by any educational institution, versus formal exam results.
The committee took up the issue of a recent advertisement issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), which made MDCAT mandatory for students seeking admission to MBBS programmes abroad. Members questioned the legal basis of the directive and expressed concern over what they termed an arbitrary policy decision lacking clear statutory backing.
The Convenor directed that a public hearing be convened, inviting students affected by MDCAT-related issues, medical practitioners, and vice chancellors of medical universities to contribute to the development of policies and legislative reforms aimed at addressing longstanding concerns in the medical admissions system.
The committee observed that such measures were particularly concerning in light of the 743 vacant seats currently available in medical and dental colleges across the country. While PMDC officials explained that the move was intended to discourage admissions in substandard foreign medical institutions, committee members questioned the role played by MDCAT to stop admission in substandard colleges.
The committee members question why a list of substandard medical colleges has not been maintained by PMDC to guide students not to seek admission there. The committee maintained that current measures mandated by PMDC imposing the MDCAT test as a criterion for seeking admission in foreign institutions without an explicit legal mandate require further deliberations.
The committee directed PMDC and the Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations, to submit all relevant documents and legal provisions authorizing the council to make MDCAT compulsory for students intending to pursue medical education abroad. The committee suggested that PMDC should publish a list of foreign medical colleges and universities that do not meet recognized standards rather than imposing blanket restrictions to better guide students and parents.
The members expressed concern that certain regulatory measures were creating unnecessary difficulties for students and contributing to frustration among aspiring medical professionals. The committee also expressed concerns regarding MDCAT weightage and the challenges faced by A-Level students during the admissions process, as the syllabus of MDCAT primarily focuses on intermediate.
Members attributed the existence of vacant seats in medical and dental colleges to shortcomings in the current policy framework and emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms. The committee further highlighted the significant disparity in the cost of medical education in Pakistan compared to countries such as China, where the cost is one-third.
During the briefing, officials informed the committee that the majority of vacant seats were in dental colleges. The committee expressed reservations regarding the international non-recognition of Pakistan’s dentistry qualifications in some countries and pointed to the need for greater standardisation and alignment with global practices. The committee was also briefed on the collection, utilization, and auditing mechanisms relating to MDCAT examination fees.
The sub-committee strongly disagreed with several aspects of the current PMDC policy framework governing MDCAT and recommended a comprehensive review and revision of the process involving all relevant stakeholders.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026