ISLAMABAD: The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination led by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan has directed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to ensure the reimbursement of excessive fees charged by private medical colleges from students enrolled in 2024.
The committee convened to address complaints from students and parents regarding exorbitant fees charged by private institutions without providing adequate facilities. Students from the Sargodha Medical University and other private medical colleges have alleged being charged up to Rs3 million annually well beyond the approved fee structure.
Palwasha emphasized the urgency of action, stating: “The PMDC must exercise its authority. Colleges that fail to comply should have their licences revoked.” She instructed the council to submit a detailed plan for refunding extra fees within two weeks. PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj acknowledged that private medical colleges had collected unapproved fees from MBBS and BDS students in 2024. “Not all colleges have responded to our notices yet, but those who fail to comply will face strict action, including licence cancellation,” he assured the committee. He informed that the PMDC had already sought clarification from colleges and planned to impose penalties on those refusing to reimburse students. A committee led by Special Secretary Health Nasiruddin Mashood Ahmed forwarded recommendations regarding the 2024-25 fee structure to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for approval, he informed. According to him, the PMDC had summoned private medical and dental colleges’ administrations on the fees issue, but their organization claimed that due to ‘excessive increase in expenses’ including cost of utilities and rising inflation, they could not lower the tuition fees while they also citied Competition Commission rules which allowed them to charge fees on their own.
The committee members criticized the lack of accountability in private medical colleges, highlighting that annual fees, which were Rs800,000 in 2018, had now surged to Rs3 million in some institutions. Nasiruddin informed that the 2025 fee structure was being finalized per Supreme Court of Pakistan directives.
The chairperson raised concerns about the fear of retaliation among students who report violations. “Students often hesitate to come forward, fearing backlash from colleges. We will ensure their anonymity,” she said. The committee decided to conduct visits to private medical colleges in Islamabad to verify the facilities provided to students. It also directed the PMDC to take immediate action against non-compliant colleges and, if necessary, propose legislative amendments to strengthen its regulatory powers.
Regarding rebate regulations, the PMDC informed the committee that private colleges in Islamabad had agreed to reimburse the claimed amounts. However, the issue of Afghan students enrolled under foreign quotas in the Sargodha Medical University remained unresolved, with complaints that the university was not issuing degrees to these students.
The committee recommended that the PMDC must enforce fee refunds for 2024 students, medical and dental colleges failing to comply should face licence cancellations within two weeks while a clear framework for fee regulation and student protection must be developed by the PMDC.
Palwasha reiterated the need for stricter oversight and urged the PMDC to fully utilize its authority as a regulator. “If amendments to the law are required, inform us, and the committee will recommend them to the Senate,” she added.