An unexpected admission gap has emerged in Punjab’s private medical colleges, with 426 MBBS seats still empty after the merit lists were released.
Data shows that 109 candidates did not join any college, while 317 students withdrew after initially securing admission, highlighting a growing concern in Pakistan’s medical educational sector.
Limited job opportunities, low salaries, and unclear career paths are increasingly discouraging students from pursuing medicine. After completing house jobs, graduates often struggle to secure training positions, while pays remain relatively low. Reports indicate that medical officers in private hospitals earn around Rs 40,000, whereas house officers receive about Rs 60,000, despite years of education that exceeds Rs 15 million.
Issues such as strict attendance rules, limited clinical exposure, few attached teaching hospitals, and weak regulatory oversight continue to undermine the quality of medical training. Concerns are also raised over the declined standards of private medical colleges. Many are reported to operate without proper facilities, raising questions about regulation and oversight.
According to the estimates, between 20,000 to 30,000 or more doctors are currently unemployed in Pakistan. As a result, many aspiring students are reconsidering medicine as a career, opting for professions with more stable prospects.
This situation highlights an urgent need for reforms in medical education, stronger regulatory oversight, and improved career prospects for young doctors. Without addressing these challenges, the sector risks losing talented professionals and public trust in the country’s healthcare system. The growing number of unfilled seats is more than a statistic, it reflects the real anxieties of a generation of doctors facing high costs, uncertain futures, and limited opportunities.