KARACHI: A committee representing public and private medical universities in Sindh will soon meet the president of Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) in Islamabad to ‘reach a consensus’ over the issue of pass percentage in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), sources told Dawn.

The committee will include Prof Gulshan Memon, Vice Chancellor of Peoples Medical University, Nawabshah, Prof Shahid Rasool, Vice Chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University and Prof Razi Muhammad, President of Pakistan Association of Medical Institutions, Sindh chapter.

Last month, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho had held a meeting with vice chancellors of public and private sector medical universities which decided to reduce MDCAT passing marks from 65 per cent set by PMC to 50pc for students seeking admission to MBBS and 40pc for BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) students.

In this respect, the sources said, Dr Peechuho had sent a letter to Dr PMC president Arshad Taqi in which she raised reservations over the entire process adopted for the MDCAT and the situation that emerged following the test.

“It was undeniable that the MDCAT was designed by a third-party testing service based on the federal curriculum and was held on different dates for different candidates.

“It may be noted that each province has its own board and its own curriculum. This has put students appearing from Sindh at a disadvantage and clearly violated the right for equal opportunity for all,” the letter says.

About the pass percentage, the minister urged the PMC “to look into the matter and consider our proposal in the best interest of Sindh province”.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2021