ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has further reduced the pass percentage of the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) to fill vacant seats in private colleges.

According to a notification available with Dawn, the decision has been made on the recommendations of a parliamentary committee.

The council stated that all recommendations have been placed before it for approval and that no decision is finalised without prior approval.

“To address the issue of vacant seats in MBBS and BDS programmes fairly and systematically, the matter, after deliberation at the national level, including the health standing committees, has been thoroughly reviewed by the council. Accordingly, it has been decided that any admissions or processes, already completed under the Admission Regulations 2025, shall remain valid and shall be treated as properly regulated,” the notification stated.

“Admitting universities that already have a pool of eligible MBBS and BDS students under previously announced criteria must give priority to these students when filling vacant seats, especially in private medical and dental institutions,” it added.

“If seats remain vacant after all students in the existing pool have been considered, and the admitting universities are satisfied that no more eligible students are available, they may allow a one-time reduction of up to three per cent in the MDCAT passing percentage for both MBBS and BDS admissions (i.e., MBBS: 52pc and BDS: 47pc) for the financial stability of the institutions,” it stated.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2026