In a major reform, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has decided to overhaul the MDCAT examination schedule to reduce dependence on coaching academies. The new policy will be implemented from the next academic cycle.
The PM&DC has announced a significant change in the medical college admission policy, with MDCAT exams to be conducted shortly after intermediate exams.
Under the new decision, MDCAT tests across the country will begin just six days after the FSc examinations.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the move was taken on the special instructions of the prime minister. He added that the primary objective is to eliminate the influence of the so-called “academy mafia” that thrives on the current system.
Long preparation gap
Earlier, MDCAT exams were conducted four to six months after the FSC exams. This extended gap allowed private academies to charge students large sums of money for preparation during the interim period.
According to the health minister, academies used to collect lakhs of rupees from students during the months between FSC and MDCAT. He said the new policy is aimed at breaking this cycle and reducing financial pressure on families.
The minister highlighted that children from wealthy families could afford expensive tuition and academy preparation. In contrast, students from middle-class backgrounds often missed out on such opportunities, creating inequality in medical admissions.
Students to avoid double preparation
Mustafa Kamal said that under the revised system, students will no longer have to prepare separately for MDCAT after completing their FSC exams. The change is expected to streamline the process and reduce academic stress for students.
The new policy will be implemented with the upcoming intermediate examinations, according to the federal health minister. Authorities believe the reform will bring fairness and efficiency to the medical admission process.
