A senior Senate committee has warned that thousands of medical college seats in Sindh and Punjab remain vacant because high Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) criteria blocked many hopeful students from gaining entry.
Committee chairman Aamir Waliuddin told legislators that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s weightage requirements have prevented completion of admissions, leaving prospective doctors and dentists without placements across major provinces.
He said a government-appointed panel set the annual medical college fee at Rs1.8 million, but some private institutions are charging up to Rs3 million, prompting calls to address excessive costs.
During the meeting, lawmaker Anusha Rahman demanded a supplementary examination for students who failed the MDCAT, saying it is unfortunate for a student to lose a year over a single missing mark.
Mr Waliuddin suggested that the MDCAT passing marks be reduced to 33 percent, a proposal backed by Mustafa Kamal, who urged PMDC to review and report on easing criteria.
The committee also noted that more than 22,000 students cannot secure medical admissions each year, describing the situation as a serious issue requiring immediate policy attention.
