The Punjab government has expanded the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) network by adding examination centers in three new cities for 2026, making the test more accessible to students from remote areas.
For the first time, MDCAT examination centers will be established in the cities of Mianwali, Layyah, and Bahawalnagar. The move is expected to reduce travel burdens and related expenses for thousands of aspiring medical and dental students.
The Punjab government has directed University of Health Sciences (UHS) to complete the necessary arrangements for establishing the new centers ahead of the examination.
With this expansion, MDCAT will now be conducted in 15 cities across Punjab, up from 12 cities last year. The total number of examination centers will also increase from 26 to 32, providing greater convenience and capacity for candidates.
Officials said the decision aims to improve access to higher education opportunities by ensuring that students from distant regions can appear in the highly competitive admission test closer to their homes.
The MDCAT 2026 examination is scheduled to take place on August 16 and will serve as a key requirement for admission to medical and dental colleges throughout the province. Thousands of students are expected to participate in the test this year.
