The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM and DC) has drastically reduced application processing times to just three to four working days following a major digital overhaul, streamlining services for thousands of medical and dental professionals across the nation.
This technological shift, which began in May 2024 as part of the prime minister’s vision, has reshaped the council’s operational structure through the effective implementation of new online platforms for registration, postgraduate qualifications, faculty experience, and the MDCAT entrance examination.
The initiative has cleared significant backlogs and brought tangible improvements in service delivery. Applicants can now monitor their cases in real-time, which enhances accountability and removes unnecessary obstacles. The digital systems have also minimized the need for physical visits, allowing stakeholders to access services from any location at any time.
Performance figures highlight the success of the new electronic systems. Out of 175,738 registration-related applications received in the last year, a total of 173,373 have been successfully resolved. This includes the disposal of 32,469 full licenses, 61,574 license renewals, and 25,952 good standing certificates.
The specialized portals have also shown high productivity. The system for Teaching Experience Certificates has processed 7,438 of 7,462 cases, while the faculty registration platform has completed 13,483 of 13,884 applications received.
For students, the MDCAT portal has made entrance test registrations more efficient and transparent. The online process, which includes secure digital payment options, has saved applicants considerable time and effort.
To further improve accessibility, the PM and DC has launched its digital licensing system at regional offices in Lahore and Karachi. This development ensures that practitioners from Punjab and Sindh no longer need to travel to Islamabad for services such as full registration, license renewals, issuance of duplicates, and record updates.
Completed certificates from these regional centers will be dispatched via courier, and on-site assistance is available for professionals navigating the online portals.
Prof. Rizwan Taj, President of PM and DC, stated that the results demonstrate the council’s vision for a faster, more reliable, and transparent regulatory process. He clarified that the small number of pending cases is mostly due to complexities in third-party verification, a legal requirement the PM and DC cannot expedite.
The council intends to continue its nationwide expansion, with plans to digitize offices in Peshawar and Baluchistan in subsequent phases. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the IT infrastructure to minimize human interaction and align with global best practices in medical and dental regulation.