PMDC Makes MDCAT Compulsory for Pakistani Students Pursuing Medical Education Abroad

Recently the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has announced that the MDCAT is now mandatory for Pakistani students who are seeking admission to medical colleges abroad. The sudden decision has been made to standardize the qualifications of medical students and to meet the foreign medical education practices. By implementing stricter policies, the PMDC is aiming to protect student’s interests in medical field while assuring the quality education. A detailed policy announcement on this decision is expected soon from the PMDC. You can get further details below from this page.

Mandatory MDCAT for Pakistani Students Abroad

Recently Jawad Amin Khan, a member of PMDC’s executive committee stated that students who have completed their inter science Pre-Medical exams and seeking admissions abroad for MBBS and BDS programs through agents must now appear for the MDCAT exam and successfully clear it. This decision will provide a better insight and data collection on Pakistani students enrolled in medical programs abroad.

PMDC has also raised concerns over the lack of data and transparency regarding admission policies, curriculum and facilities of foreign medical colleges. According to Jawad Amin Khan, PMDC is unaware of the exact quality and standards of these institutions. To solve this issue, a policy has been developed where students applying for MBBS or BDS programs abroad must register for and clear the MDCAT exam.

MDCAT Certification and Registration

After successfully passing the MDCAT, Pakistani students will be issued a certificate of success and  this MDCAT certificate will be necessary for admissions in MBBS & BDS institutes abroad. Also, these students will be registered with PMDC. A detailed policy regarding this new MDCAT requirement will be announced soon by the council.

This decision has been made by PMDC to make MDCAT mandatory for medical admissions abroad is a major step towards improving the standards of medical education for Pakistani students.

Equivalency Test for Returning Students

PMDC has also decided to improve its equivalency test system for students returning to Pakistan after studying medicine abroad. Jawad Amin Khan also informed that during previous year (2024) only less than 2% of students who passed out from foreign medical colleges managed to clear the PMDC equivalency test.

According to these new rules the equivalency test will be conducted by the National University of Medical Sciences NUMS, and only those who pass the test will be eligible to get PMDC registration as doctors.

Inspection of Foreign Medical Colleges

To make sure the quality of education, PMDC has decided to inspect medical colleges established in smaller countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan because these countries have become popular destinations for Pakistani medical students. These inspections will be made to verify whether these institutions meet the required standards of PMDC or not, including having a teaching hospital.

Financial and Educational Concerns

Jawad Amin Khan also highlighted the financial burden on medical students abroad, where tuition fees alone can cost $10,000 annually and this cost doesn’t even include the accommodation and living expenses. On average, a Pakistani student pays $50,000 per year while studying abroad and this leads to a significant outflow of foreign exchange from Pakistan.

The degree curriculum and medical education standards in many of these countries differ significantly from Pakistan, raising concerns about the competence of returning graduates.

Social Media Misrepresentation

Students are often scammed through social media campaigns claiming that foreign medical colleges offer high-quality education and facilities. But many Pakistani students are not aware of the reality behind these campaigns and this includes the absence of necessary facilities like teaching hospitals too.

There has been a prominent rise in the number of Pakistani students going for medical education in smaller countries through local Pakistani agents and misleading advertisements. PMDC’s new rules and policies are aiming to keep students safe from these kind of campaigns and to make sure that students receive quality education that completely align with Pakistan’s standards.