LAHORE: As many as 74,502 candidates appeared in the Medical and Dental Colleges’ Admission Test (MDCAT) conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Sunday.

The test was held at the 33 centres set up in Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, D.G. Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Hassan Abdal.

The candidates -- 48,472 girls and 26,030 boys -- started reaching their centres as early as 6am. A total of 5,820 teachers including 314 superintendents and 560 deputy superintendents performed invigilation duties at these centres.

A number of policemen were deployed to provide security and ensure smooth conduct of the examination. Besides, closed-circuit television cameras, mobile phone jammers and walk-through gates were installed at major centres. Back-up power generators were also provided at some of the centres. This year, biometric verification of the candidates was done by the Nadra mobile units.

In Lahore, 13,468 girls and 6,472 boys appeared in the test at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education examination halls on Lawrence Road, the Punjab University examination halls on Wahdat Road, the Government Comprehensive Girls High School, Wahdat Road, the Divisional Public School, Model Town, the Govt Postgraduate College for Women, Samanabad, the University of Education, Township, and the Lahore College for Women University, Jail Road.

UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Javed Akram visited various centres and monitored the arrangements. The vice chancellors and principals of medical institutions were appointed coordinators for the test.

Deputy Commissioner Saleha Saeed also paid visits to many centres and monitored the arrangements made for parents.

In Rawalpindi, 8,898 candidates appeared in the test. The number of candidates in Multan was 11,007, Faisalabad (8,087), Gujranwala (4,080), Bahawalpur (3,833), Sargodha (3,448), Sahiwal (4,216), Gujrat (2,247), D.G. Khan (3,328), Rahim Yar Khan (1,998), Hassan Abdal (1,067) and Sialkot (2,353).

The question paper prepared by the UHS this time round was of four codes with questions shuffled in each code. The candidates were allowed to bring clip boards with them.

Speaking to the media persons at the PU Wahdat Road centre, Prof Javed Akram said the MDCAT was a very important examination and it would ensure merit and justice.

“We are aware of the hardships these candidates and their parents have to face but this is the only way to ensure justice and fair play,” he said.

He said the new SOPs had been developed and fresh multi-tiered security measures were put in place for preparation, printing, packaging and transportation of the entrance test paper.

“The MDCAT results are extremely important. They carry 50 per cent weightage in merit as per the formula of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). They are proof that a candidate can handle the academic rigours of medical or dental college,” he said.

Punjab University VC Prof Niaz Ahmad, Fatima Jinnah Medical University VC Prof Aamir Zaman Khan and Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Prof Arif Tajammul were also present.

Later in the evening, the UHS uploaded the answer key on its website www.uhs.edu.pk. With the help of this key, candidates can calculate their scores by themselves. The official result will be declared in a week or so after which the admission schedule will be announced.

There shall be centralised admissions in both public and private colleges as per the PMDC regulations.

There are 3,405 MBBS seats in 17 public-sector medical colleges and 216 BDS seats in three dental colleges of Punjab. Besides, there are 3,350 MBBS and 825 BDS seats in 29 private-sector medical colleges and 15 dental colleges all over the province.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2019