ISLAMABAD: After settling the issue of students who want to get admissions in engineering universities, the ministries of federal education and health on Thursday decided to allow students to sit in tests of medical colleges before F.Sc pre medical results and A2.

The decision was taken at a joint high level meeting jointly chaired by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan.

A press release issued by ministry of Education said the meeting discussed various options to save the academic year of A2 and FSc pre-medical students disrupted by Covid-19 and their timely admission in public and private medical universities across the country.

Pakistan Medical Council (PMC) informed the Minister that as per the PMC Undergraduate Education (Admissions, Curriculum and Conduct) Regulations 2021 all students who wish to seek admission in medical and dental colleges can take the MDCAT examination even if they have not yet taken their FSc pre-medical or A level exams.

MDCAT exam will be conducted from August 30th to September 30.

All students who are taking their A Level exams in October can take the MDCAT exam in September and also apply for admissions to medical colleges before their exams are held.

Admissions have to be finalised in medical and dental colleges by January 15, 2022 as per PMC regulations.

Vice President PMC also requested the Federal Minister for Education and SAPM Health to consider the issue of using only elective subject results this year for merit creation in public colleges in view of the FSc exams being held for elective subjects only.

PMC is already considering a policy on these lines for private colleges.

The press release said that both ministers reaffirmed that incumbent government is absolutely focused on addressing the education emergencies due to Covid-19 and no stone will be left unturned to provide the students fair opportunities for their career path.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2021