ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), the representative body of doctors, has rejected the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s (PMDC) recent decision of restricting candidates of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 in their respective province.

The association has demanded that the notification be withdrawn as the policy will disproportionately disadvantage students from less developed areas or those who may have strong academic records but face logistical challenges in their home provinces. Moreover it will put an unnecessary burden on deserving candidates and will limit accessibility to medical education.

It is worth mentioning here that PMDC’s decision to restrict candidates of MDCAT to their respective provinces has sparked fresh controversy. Candidates and their parents have argued that, according to the Constitution, children automatically inherit the domicile of the province of their parents. Moreover tens of thousands of government employees and armed forces personnel are posted/deputed out of their provinces so they will be left with no choice but to travel to their provinces. They fear the decision could compromise the safety and well-being of students, many of whom have seldom traveled to their native areas.

The PMA has asserted that PMDC, as a crucial regulatory body, has a fundamental duty to facilitate the growth and development of future healthcare professionals, not to erect barriers that stifle talent and exacerbate existing systemic flaws.

Calls for withdrawal of notification; says policy will disproportionately disadvantage students from less-developed areas

“The decision to restrict candidates to appear in MDCAT only within their provinces or region is highly problematic. It creates an unnecessary burden and limits accessibility to medical education for deserving candidates across the nation,” the association claimed in a statement.

Exclusivity of international venue

“The designation of Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the only international venue for the MDCAT is deeply concerning. This decision creates immense financial and logistical burdens for aspiring Pakistani medical students living abroad, particularly those in other regions of the world. It effectively limits opportunities for a vast number of overseas Pakistanis who wish to contribute to their homeland’s healthcare system. This unilateral decision lacks foresight and fails to consider the diverse global footprint of Pakistani diaspora,” it stated.

The statement said: “The PMA has consistently raised alarms regarding the integrity of the MDCAT system. We receive a deluge of complaints daily, detailing instances of alleged corruption, cheating and favouritism within the MDCAT framework. This ongoing lack of transparency has severely eroded public confidence in the examination process, creating a pervasive sense of mistrust among students, parents and the broader educational community. The current system rewards those who can navigate its loopholes, rather than those with genuine merit and dedication.”

PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said the true solution was not in adding more layers of “flawed” examinations, but in strengthening the very foundation of educational institutions.

“If our matriculation and intermediate examination systems are made genuinely transparent, robust, and free from external influence, then the need for a separate, often compromised, MDCAT would diminish significantly. A fair and rigorous academic assessment from the foundational levels would ensure that only truly deserving and competent students advance to higher medical education,” he said.

The PMA has urged the PMDC to immediately withdraw the restrictive MDCAT 2025 policies, particularly the provincial limitations for test venues and the singular international centre. It has suggested initiating a comprehensive and transparent review of the MDCAT system, involving all key stakeholders, including student bodies, educational experts and medical professionals.

“Engage in meaningful dialogue with the PMA and other representative bodies to collaboratively develop sustainable and equitable solutions for medical admissions that truly serve the nation’s healthcare future,” it suggested.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2025