ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has imposed a moratorium on the registration of new medical and dental colleges in light of the faculty shortage, besides increasing the quota for Islamabad students in the colleges run by the federal health ministry.

According to documents, PMDC showed concerns about the availability of qualified teachers required to maintain educational standards due to a rapid increase in the number of medical colleges.

“It was agreed that as per data available, the faculty required for 187 medical/dental colleges is 26,018, whereas the faculty available in these medical/dental colleges is 22,746. This shows a grave paucity of faculty which has led to a deterioration of educational competence, clinical training, research, and academic excellence; resultantly, affecting patient care and the public at large,” the documents stated.

“Considering the situation, the PMDC council has decided that a moratorium (for a period of 3-5 years) be imposed on new medical/dental colleges, as well as on enhancement of seats (creating the same impact, i.e. increased faculty requirement). This shall strengthen the regulatory mechanism of the PMDC to ensure institutional compliance with the standards,” the documents added.

The colleges under administrative control will induct 55 students instead of 15 from Islamabad after the increase in quota.

“This is with reference to the meeting of [the] federal cabinet held on January 30, 2025, at Prime Minister’s House regarding ‘revision of quota distribution of MBBS-BDS seats in the medical/dental colleges under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health’. It is informed that the cabinet has graciously approved the revision of quota presented by the federal health secretary,” the document stated.

After the increase in the number of seats for Islamabad residents, Punjab’s seats have been reduced from 38 to 29, Sindh (rural) from 9 to 7, Sindh (urban) from 6 to 5, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 9 to 7. After a reduction of one seat, the number of seats for Balochistan has been reduced from 5 to 4. Subsequently, seats for Islamabad residents have been increased from 5 to 14 in Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University. In Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical and Dental College, there will be 16 seats.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2025