Islamabad: The Senate’s Standing Committee for Health has proposed replacing the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) with a standardized test like the American Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or Cambridge style. This move comes in response to allegations of irregularities and corruption surrounding the MDCAT, which is administered by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
Dr. Mukhtar Malik, the Prime Minister’s Health Coordinator, presented the proposal to the committee, highlighting the significant financial waste associated with the MDCAT and the potential for corruption.
He argued that an IT-based SAT-style test would reduce the likelihood of irregularities and ensure greater transparency in the admissions process.
“Every year they put our future at stake and only a few recommended aspirants get their seats”, Miss Naila Kakar, Member of Students Nexus by SMY, an educational platform, stated.
The proposal aligns with recent developments in the medical admissions landscape. On October 10, 2024, the Islamabad High Court halted the admission processes of the PMDC and the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) following allegations of errors in the MDCAT exam. Student’s advocates claimed that nearly 30 questions in the SZABMU MDCAT 2024 were incorrect.
Similar allegations of paper leaks and irregularities have marred previous MDCAT exams, including the DUHS MDCAT 2024. In response to these concerns, the Sindh High Court halted the admission process for medical and dental colleges in Sindh for 15 days.
While the Intelligence Bureau has reported no evidence of paper leaks or irregularities in this year’s PMDC MDCAT, the Senate committee’s proposal reflects a growing desire for a more transparent and equitable system for medical admissions in Pakistan.
The Author is a 3rd Year MBBS student, and founder of Students Nexus by SMY, an educational platform. He can be reached at @YStorai on the ‘X’ platform.Â
