Sukkur IBA allowed to conduct fresh MDCAT for all candidates

The Sindh Health Department has given formal permission to the Institute of Business Administration Sukkur to retake the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) of Karachi candidates as well.

Now the IBA Sukkur will conduct the fresh MDCAT of students from entire Sindh, including Karachi. In a letter written by Deputy Secretary Health Department Zohaib Hasan Sheikh to IBA Sukkur Vice Chancellor Dr Asif Sheikh, it has been stated that in compliance with the directive passed by the Sindh High Court, the Medical and Dental Admission Test will be re-conducted.

The letter further says that the IBA Karachi has intimated its incapacity and unwillingness to conduct the MDCAT-24. Therefore, the Sukkur IBA University, in light of the court order, is allowed and requested to retake the MDCAT-24 in the entire province.

“The Honorable Sindh High Court, Karachi, has granted 04-week time period from the date of issuance of full Court Order i.e. 15th November, 2024. Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Islamabad and Dow University of Health, Karachi, have already been requested for sharing the data as per requirement of Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur. The sharing of data has been confirmed by the PMDC Islamabad.”

It is said in the letter that the Health Department, Government of Sindh, has already nominated a focal person and the requested meeting has been held and other necessary correspondence is also made.

The subject memorandum of understanding between the Health Department, Government of Sindh, and the Sukkur IBA University has been reviewed and found in order with some modifications and shall be signed at first availability, it says.

In compliance with the decision taken by the provincial cabinet, in its meeting held on 6th November 2024, the SIBA Testing Services (STS) under the Sukkur IBA University has been granted Rs232.140 million for the conduct of the MDCAT-24. Moreover, the Health Department has floated a summary for the chief minister for the release of the required funds.

It is, therefore, requested that the Sukkur IBA University completes the process of retaking the MDCAT-24 within the stipulated time period in compliance with court order, says the letter.

On October 26, the Sindh High Court had told the provincial authorities through a short order to retake the MDCAT within four weeks after an inquiry committee had concluded that the entire test procedure of September in had been compromised in the province.

Issuing a detailed order in the MDCAT paper leak case, a high court division bench Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito observed last week that when high-profile cases like the MDCAT scandal remain unaddressed, it can significantly erode public trust in educational institutions and the credibility of the medical profession as a whole. The bench said that when irregularities and malpractices are allowed to persist unchecked, it sends a message that these institutions lack accountability and rigorous oversight.