Syed Muhammad Yaseen
Islamabad — The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination convened today at Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of MNA Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani. The meeting featured critical updates from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) regarding medical and dental college admissions across Pakistan.
During the session, PMDC officials formally announced significant reforms to the MDCAT and medical college admission policy. The committee was informed that seat switching between medical colleges has been permanently abolished, closing a long-standing loophole in the admission system.
In a major policy shift, the validity of MDCAT eligibility has been reduced from three years to one year. This change will be implemented through an amendment to be tabled in the upcoming National Assembly session, making MDCAT results valid only for the same academic year in which the exam is conducted.
PMDC officials further clarified that already enrolled students will not be eligible to apply for admissions in future sessions, ensuring a strict one-time entry policy. The PMDC President assured the committee that the medical and dental college admission process will be completed by February 21, 2026.
With these reforms now officially confirmed, old MDCAT scores will no longer be accepted for future admissions. Candidates planning to rely on previous MDCAT results have been advised to prepare anew, as past scores will hold no academic or legal value going forward.
These measures aim to enhance transparency, merit-based selection, and regulatory discipline within Pakistan’s medical education system. Aspirants are urged to plan accordingly, as the new admission framework leaves no room for assumptions, extensions, or policy reversals.
