ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee’s subcommittee on health has recommended major reforms to the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and the admission system for medical colleges, including holding the test twice a year and considering a reduction in its admission weightage from 50 percent to 30 percent.
The recommendations were included in a report prepared by the subcommittee, convened by Senator Anusha Rahman and comprising Senator Samina Zehri and Senator Jahanzeb.
The report recommended reducing reliance on a single examination to determine a student’s future admission prospects. It also proposed giving students a second opportunity to take the MDCAT in the same year so that those who fail the test do not lose an entire academic year.
The subcommittee further recommended examining the possible impact of introducing negative marking in the MDCAT and allowing test results to remain valid for up to three years.
It also called for the examination date to be announced well in advance and not changed except in extraordinary circumstances.
To address concerns over ambiguous, incorrect or controversial questions, the committee recommended establishing a formal complaint and review mechanism. It said students should not have to rely on private academies for months simply to prepare for the entrance examination.
The report also stressed the need to make the MDCAT fair and uniform for students from different educational backgrounds, including those studying under the FSc, Cambridge, O-Level and A-Level systems.
It recommended involving experts from the Cambridge, O/A-Level and International Baccalaureate (IB) systems in the preparation of the MDCAT syllabus.
The committee also raised questions over the number of available medical and dental seats compared with the number of eligible candidates.
According to the report, around 169,520 candidates appeared in the MDCAT in 2024, of whom approximately 16,648 were successful, while the total number of medical and dental seats in the country stood at around 22,300.
The subcommittee termed the gap between the number of eligible candidates and available seats an important issue for the country’s medical admission policy.
It recommended preparing a five-year plan to increase medical college seats, gradually expanding capacity in public-sector medical colleges and creating more opportunities for medical education in underserved areas, including Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The report said that more than 40,000 qualified Pakistani doctors have moved abroad for employment in recent years.
The committee questioned the policy of keeping access to medical education limited despite the country’s need for more doctors. It called for a comprehensive policy to expand the healthcare workforce.
It also recommended reviewing the high fees charged by private medical colleges, increasing financial assistance for deserving students and ensuring more effective utilisation of medical seats that remain vacant.
The subcommittee proposed a permanent relief mechanism for MDCAT candidates affected by floods, natural disasters and security-related situations, arguing that such a mechanism would eliminate the need for separate decisions during emergencies each year.
The committee recommended that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) publish complete annual data on MDCAT registrations, results, available seats and admissions.
It also called for the establishment of an immediate complaints system, a fast-track email service and an effective call centre for students.
The report stressed the need to make the PMDC more transparent, accountable and effective. It further recommended that any major change to MDCAT policy should undergo legal scrutiny and receive formal approval before implementation.
Overall, the subcommittee described the existing medical admissions system as being in need of major reforms. It said the entire process from the MDCAT and allocation of medical college seats to admissions should be fair, merit-based and transparent, while also being aligned with the country’s actual healthcare workforce requirements.
