ISLAMABAD: After identifying irregularities in the admissions in three private medical colleges, Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has directed the colleges to give admissions to 29 students.

The students were denied admission in the colleges in the session 2020-21 as they were unable to pay five-year fees in lump sum, though they had qualified for admission.

Moreover, as a penalty the colleges have been advised to exempt the students from paying first year fee, and asked them to charge same fee for the remaining duration of the MBBS or BDS programme which was existed in 2020-21.

The PMC took the decision after a detailed review of the complaints filed by students over irregularities in the admission process in 19 medical and dental colleges.

The students claimed that their numbers in National Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) were more than the students who were given admissions in the colleges. The colleges even interviewed them but were not given admissions.

Commission takes decision after finding irregularities in admissions

The PMC took the decision after hearing to the submissions of students and the respective colleges and going through the evidence available on the record.

According to a statement, PMC observed that in three colleges-- Mohammad College of Medicine Peshawar, Rawal Institute of Medicine Islamabad and Sialkot Medical College-- 29 students were denied admission in the session 2020-21.

The commission passed orders to grant admission to students in session 2021 in the college that denied them admission.

“Students were denied admission in the colleges by giving them unjustified low marks in the interview or unfairly demanding a complete deposit of the five-year fee or imposing a requirement of bank guarantee for four years in addition to a one-year fee.

“Therefore, these students have the right to be admitted to these colleges. Hence these students are granted admission in the respective college for the year 2021-22 subject to their acceptance,” it stated.

“The admission of these students will be adjusted in the existing seats allocated to the college. They will not be charged a fee by the college for the first year of study. As a penalty to the colleges, the first-year fee of the student shall be exempted and the fee structure for the remaining duration of the MBBS or BDS programme shall remain the same as existed in the year 2020-21,” it concludes.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2021