ISLAMABAD: A controversy related to the exorbitant fee and alleged irregularities in the entry test conducted by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) has finally reached the prime minister’s portal.

Students who appeared in the entry test for the doctor of medicine (MD) and master of surgery (MS) programmes complained that not only the fee was very high but also appropriate time was not provided to them to solve the questions. They also raised questions over a delay in announcement of the result.

However, SZABMU Vice Chancellor Prof Tanvir Khaliq claimed that there was nothing wrong in conducting the entry test and candidates had been offered to register their concerns with the university.

He said their grievances would be addressed within 24 hours.

Complainant says appropriate time was also not provided to candidates to solve questions

After Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), the graduates have to study further four years to become MD or MS which are specialised courses.

A citizen has lodged a report with the PM’s portal stating that the university had announced an entrance test for postgraduate training on Dec 15 and duration of the exam and pattern were also mentioned on its website.

“Fee for the entrance test is not more than Rs3,000 at University of Health Sciences, King Edward Medical University, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Isra University etc., but SZABMU charged Rs16,000 as the entry test fee,” the complainant said.

“Paper was totally against the syllabus or pattern given on the website of the university. Time allocated for each paper was three hours but it was reduced to two hours without any prior notification. It was a computerised exam but it took 10 days to announce the result. Moreover, only roll numbers of the successful candidates, rather than their names, were mentioned. Even result cards were not issued despite the fact that all universities issue the result cards.”

But the VC told Dawn that there were 220 candidates and each had to solve two question papers.

“The paper was based on multiple choice questions (MCQs) and according to international standards 100 minutes were given to solve 100 questions. However, we gave more than one minute for each question,” he said.

Replying a question, he said it was correct that the entry test fee, which was not refundable, was high. But the decision was taken by the previous syndicate much before his appointment, said the VC. He promised that he would play his role to reduce the fee at least by 50 per cent.

“Private universities charge fee from MD/MS students but we provide them Rs80,000 per month stipends. As far as 10 days of delay in the announcement of the result, we made it sure that no one would suffer and selected the top 70 candidates for the courses.”

Prof Khaliq said result cards would also be issued, and if any candidate had a grievance they should lodge a complaint with the university.

“We will look into the issue and intimate the candidates within 24 hours,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2020