A parliamentary committee today directed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to urgently formulate a policy within three days for students who scored 90% in previous medical entrance exams but did not appear for the 2025 test, warning of “strict action” if the deadline is not met.
The directive was issued during a meeting of the Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR and C), held on Friday under the chairmanship of MNA Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani to review the conduct and evaluation of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025.
While the committee unanimously lauded the successful administration of this year”s exam, it emphasized that a clear mechanism, potentially including a relative marking adjustment, must be finalized swiftly to safeguard the prospects of the high-achieving absentees.
The panel expressed satisfaction with the MDCAT 2025 process, attributing its fair and transparent execution to the committee’s continuous oversight and PMDC”s dedicated efforts. Members noted that due to enhanced coordination between the PMDC, provincial governments, and law enforcement, no major complaints or paper leakages were reported nationwide.
Special appreciation was extended to the Government of Balochistan and the Vice Chancellor of Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences for conducting the examination in an exemplary manner despite significant provincial challenges. The committee also commended the positive role of other provinces and their respective universities in ensuring smooth logistics and timely result evaluation.
It was noted that several key reforms recommended by the committee were implemented for the first time, including a domicile-based examination system and a standardized question pool to ensure uniformity. Enhanced grievance redressal mechanisms and improved communication were also praised.
Despite acknowledging the marked improvements, the committee put forward further recommendations for future examinations. These included strengthening the examination software to prevent data errors, adopting uniform documentation requirements across all provinces, and reviewing the weightage of board examination marks in the admission criteria.
Furthermore, the committee underscored the necessity for the PMDC and the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) to hold joint consultations to address evaluation and equivalency disparities faced by O- and A-Level students.
Concluding the session, the Chairman reiterated that the committee would continue its monitoring to ensure future examinations are conducted with even greater transparency and inclusivity, terming the success of MDCAT 2025 a testament to collaborative governance and effective parliamentary oversight.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, Ms. Sabheen Ghoury, Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Dr. Darshan, Ms. Aliya Kamran, Ms. Shaista Khan, and Ms. Farrukh Khan. The President of PMDC, Vice Chancellors of MDCAT conducting universities, and senior officials from the health ministry and provincial health departments also participated.