ISLAMABAD: A subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services on Saturday suggested to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to revamp the medical education programmes and align them with international best practices.

The committee held a meeting chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman to evaluate the council’s Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) and review the national policy framework for students.

The meeting was attended by Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani along with senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the PMDC.

The PMDC officials informed the committee that a consensual syllabus covering common areas between FSc and A-Levels was finalised, which resulted in fewer syllabus-related complaints last year.

Subcommittee evaluates MDCAT, reviews national policy framework for students

To verify these claims, the convener directed the PMDC to submit comprehensive feedback on the question bank and stakeholder consultation process.

The PMDC explained that MCQ-based tests were global standards for content validity assessment. The committee urged relevant authorities to revamp national educational programs and align them with international best practices.

The committee directed the council to correct the newspaper advertisement mandating compulsory MDCAT for foreign medical admissions which was not the policy of the government. It was clarified by officials that MDCAT was mandatory for only specific foreign universities rather than all institutions.

The committee asked to see the approved policy which mandated such a requirement and if that was a policy of the federal government or only of PMDC, to which no clear response was given by officials.

The committee inquired if any action was taken against the officer responsible for publication of an incorrect advertisement misleading students to compulsorily appear in MDCAT even if applying to foreign universities. The committee directed to issue clarification to be printed on the front pages of national newspapers at the earliest to avoid unnecessary burden on students.

The committee asked why a simple registration with PMDC be made a requirement for outgoing students, if the intent of PMDC was to discourage students to study in substandard medical colleges overseas instead of mandating MDCAT.

Furthermore, the subcommittee highlighted the plight of bright students who clear MDCAT and pass admission criteria but fail to secure admission due to limited medical seats.

For example, from over 168,000 students appearing in MDCAT in 2024, more than 113000 passed and were qualified to become doctors; however, there were only 22300 medical seats on which these students could be adjusted.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026