KARACHI: Ending days of speculations that followed the Sindh government’s decision to hold afresh the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2023, interim Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz said on Saturday that the provincial government proposed Nov 19 as the date for re-conducting the exam for which aspiring candidates would not be charged any fee.

“November 19 has been proposed to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council [PMDC] as the date for holding the paper afresh. The same date is suggested [to the PMDC] by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government,” he told a press conference here at the Karachi Press Club.

Recently, the caretaker chief minister had announced that the MDCAT held would be organised afresh through the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS). The decision was taken in the light of an inquiry committee’s report that revealed that the Sept 10 paper, organised by Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), was leaked four to five hours before the test began. Over 40,000 students had appeared in the entry test.

The health minister emphasised that the government would take strict action against the elements that leaked the paper even if it involved the vice chancellor of JSMU.

Candidates will not be required to pay any fee for new test, says health minister

“Rest assured that no one will be spared as soon as we get a detailed report from the Federal Investigation Agency [FIA]. The agency is tasked to dig out specific actionable information, which currently we don’t have,” he claimed.

He pointed out that while the inquiry report submitted by a high-level committee did establish a paper leak, it was short of “precise information that could allow legal action against an individual or individuals”.

About JSMU’s role, he explained that since the university in question had conducted the controversial paper, the inquiry report had highlighted the lapses in its performance. “It’s on the recommendation of the same committee that the chief minister has asked the FIA to carry out a detailed investigation.”

Apology to students, parents

Earlier, the minister started off the briefing by apologising on behalf of the provincial government for the troubles, disappointment and pain students and parents had to experience due to the leaked paper that led to cancellation of the whole process last month.

He assured journalists that all means would be utilised to ensure transparency in the yet-to-be scheduled exam.

“It’s not just a matter of one paper. But, it’s like jeopardising public health and the future of our medical education. We must ensure merit at all levels if we want to improve our healthcare system and protect patients’ lives,” he said.

It is learnt that the inquiry report, referred to in the minister’s press conference, raised concern over JSMU’s “mechanism and approach adopted to arrange the process of MDCAT 2023 that is reflective of negligence and dereliction on its part”.

It suggested that the vice chancellor should be asked to explain as to why he appointed as additional director and entrusted with the important task of MDCAT entry test 2023.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2023