In a massive turnout of aspirants, more than 66,000 candidates, including 45,121 females and 21,743 males, participated in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) across various cities in Punjab.

The MDCAT, a pivotal examination for medical and dental college admissions, took place peacefully at 29 designated centers across Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Multan, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, and D.G. Khan. Candidates began arriving at the centers as early as 7:00 a.m., with the test commencing at 10:00 a.m. and concluding three and a half hours later.

The UHS left no stone unturned in ensuring the smooth conduct of the examination.

A total of 4,270 school and college teachers were engaged to oversee supervisory and invigilation duties, supported by 225 superintendents and 355 deputy superintendents. Furthermore, senior faculty members of the university served as head couriers and couriers responsible for the test's administration.

To oversee the entire process, vice-chancellors, pro-vice chancellors, principals, and senior faculty members of government medical institutions in relevant cities were deputed as regional in-charges. Officers from the Specialized Health Care and Medical Education department, deputy commissioners, and assistant commissioners in relevant districts monitored the arrangements closely.

Security measures

Stringent security measures included the imposition of Section 144 to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the examination centers. All centers were sealed at 9:00 a.m., with a substantial deployment of police personnel to maintain order. Ambulances, medical teams, and fire brigades were on standby in case of any emergencies.

Additionally, closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras, mobile phone jammers, and walk-through gates were installed at major centers. Candidates underwent physical searches at the entry points.

Notably, in Lahore, a total of 13,259 female and 5,755 male candidates participated in the test at various prestigious institutions, including GCU, University of Education Township, Lahore College for Women University, and others.

Results awaited

Just five hours after the examination concluded, UHS uploaded the answer key to the question paper on its website, allowing candidates to calculate their scores themselves.

The official results will be declared within a week, following which the admission schedule will be announced.

Upholding merit

There are 3,376 MBBS seats in 16 public sector medical colleges and 240 BDS seats in 3 public dental colleges in Punjab. Additionally, approximately 4,500 MBBS and 800 BDS seats are available in 45 private sector medical and dental colleges in the province.

To ensure merit and transparency in admissions, Punjab Health Minister Professor Javed Akram announced an additional grant of Rs 1,000 per candidate for the university, acknowledging the substantial costs involved in conducting the MDCAT.