Officials from the PMDC confirmed that six questions had surfaced at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University, matching those recommended by the council
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: In a meeting held at Parliament House on Wednesday, Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti chaired the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) to address pressing issues related to medical education in Islamabad. One of the key topics discussed was the annual fee for medical students, particularly the lack of rebates offered by private colleges. The committee heard that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) should enforce existing regulations that prevent private institutions from increasing fees mid-career.
In addition, it was recommended that these colleges provide a discount of either 4 percent or 2 percent for students opting to pay their fees in a lump sum. Senator Irfan ul Haque Siddiqui raised concerns about reports of annual fee hikes by several private medical colleges during students’ courses, prompting the committee to direct the PMDC to submit a report within two weeks. This report will investigate whether such increases have occurred and will focus on the possibility of rebates on the annual fees. To delve deeper into the matter, a sub-committee was formed under the leadership of Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan.
The committee also reviewed the recent allegations regarding a leak of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) paper, which took place on September 22, 2024. Officials from the PMDC confirmed that six questions had surfaced at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University, matching those recommended by the council. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, PM Coordinator for NHSR&C, stated that the Intelligence Bureau is investigating the situation and reported that no leak had been confirmed. However, concerns were raised about the disparity in exam difficulty across different provinces.
Chairman Chishti expressed significant worries about the current MDCAT system, urging the PMDC to adopt an IT-based solution to minimize human intervention, as the stakes for students are high. He called for robust measures to combat malpractice and highlighted that the PMDC’s existing system is outdated. The committee instructed the PMDC to develop a new IT-based framework within three months.
