By: ANI Correspondent
ISLAMABAD —The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, reviewed the sub-committee report on policy and planning for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).
The meeting was attended by Senators Syed Masroor Ahsan, Anusha Rahman, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Shahzaib Durrani and Saleem Mandviwalla.
Senator Anusha Rahman, convenor of the sub-committee, highlighted concerns over the PMDC’s annual cap of 22,300 medical seats, saying it may not adequately meet Pakistan’s healthcare needs. The committee was informed that around 93,000 MDCAT-qualified students are unable to secure admission to medical colleges.
The sub-committee called for meaningful consultation with all stakeholders, particularly private medical colleges, and recommended reconsidering the medical seat cap and the existing 50 percent MDCAT weightage in admissions.
The committee also recommended stronger regulation of substandard foreign medical institutions and publication of a list of institutions that fail to meet prescribed standards.
Members raised concerns over the mismatch between FSc/A-Level curricula and the MCQ-based MDCAT examination, recommending multiple opportunities for candidates to take the test each year.
Chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti appreciated the sub-committee’s work and directed PMDC to ensure meaningful stakeholder consultation while revising medical education and admission policies.
He stressed that expansion of medical education must be accompanied by strict quality standards and effective regulation of private medical colleges.
