Medical College Admissions Paused Nationwide Due to MDCAT Controversy

We have crucial updates regarding, why PMDC has halted MBBS and BDS admissions 2024 in Pakistan? The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council PMDC has officially paused or postponed the complete admission process for MBBS and BDS programs in all medical and dental colleges across Pakistan. This action follows restraining orders from the Sindh High Court SHC and Islamabad High Court IHC, which have temporarily suspended the MDCAT 2024 result due to ongoing investigations regarding exam irregularities and questions which came out of the syllabus. Currently the investigation is ongoing and soon the final verdict regarding this pause in MBBS and BDS admission across Pakistan. Stay tuned for the latest updates on continuing of MBBS and BDS admissions 2024 in Pakistan. 

Court Ordered Delay of Medical Admissions

PMDC officials confirmed recently that all medical institutions in the Pakistan must obey the courts' directives to halt this year’s MBBS and BDS admission. Both the SHC and IHC are investigating claims of misconduct or irregularities in the MDCAT exam 2024, including allegations of MDCAT paper leak in Sindh and out of syllabus questions in Islamabad. The courts are expected to deliver their final rulings by the end of this month (October 2024).

Impact of MDCAT Results Nationwide

MDCAT results from Dow University of Health Sciences and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) are under particular inspection, as these institutions’ MDCAT results apply nationwide under PMDC regulations. Until the courts resolve the matter, no medical or dental colleges in Pakistan can proceed with their medical and dental admission, according to PMDC officials.

Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, PMDC President, confirmed the admission suspension in an interview, stating, “We have directed all public and private medical colleges to pause the admission process. The high court rulings are applicable nationwide, and until the courts make their decisions, no admissions can proceed.”

Allegations of MDCAT Paper Leak and Irregularities

The controversy began when several students from Sindh raised concerns about a possible MDCAT exam paper leak, leading to a series of petitions and the suspension of admissions. In Sindh alone, over 38,000 candidates appeared for the MDCAT, with some student’s unusually high scores raising suspicions of malpractice. The SHC noted significant inconsistencies in student performance, particularly in cases where students who underperformed in their board exams has excelled or gained unexpected marks in the MDCAT.

Special Committees Formed for Investigation

To address these concerns, the SHC has formed a committee to investigate the validity of the exam and identify any possible criminal or civil liabilities. The Sindh committee, chaired by Dr. Shireen Mustafa and appointed by Sindh’s Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, is expected to submit its findings or proofs within 15 days. Similarly, in Islamabad, a committee led by Prof. Iqbal Khan, Vice Chancellor of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, is investigating complaints about exam irregularities/ out of syllabus questions.

Varying MDCAT Performances Raise Concerns

Over 160,000 students took the MDCAT nationwide, but the results have been called into question due to widely varying performances across different regions. For example, in Punjab, 2,841 out of 58,389 students scored over 190 marks, while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, only 38 out of 42,336 students achieved the same scores. In contrast, Sindh reported an unusually high number of top scorers, further fueling suspicions of malpractice or cheating.

PMDC Highlights the Integrity of MDCAT

The PMDC and officials, including health secretaries and university officials, have expressed their commitment to fully cooperating with the courts. While the PMDC acknowledges the need to protect students’ futures, it stresses that the integrity of the Medical admission process must be paused at this moment. The fate of thousands of aspiring medical students now hangs in the balance as the final court hearings are scheduled for late October 2024. Both high courts are expected to issue their judgments in the coming weeks, providing clarity on the future of medical and dental admissions in Pakistan.

Extensions in Admission Dates

The MDCAT has faced problems and disruptions in previous years, and this latest controversy further complicates Pakistan's already competitive medical admissions process. As the courts continue their investigations, both students and medical institutions must wait for the final verdict, which will determine the next steps for the 2024 admissions. However, students need not worry about missing admission deadlines, as the pause in the process means that medical and dental program deadlines in Pakistan will also be extended accordingly.