NA panel directs PMDC to ensure MDCAT retake in Islamabad by 30th

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination has directed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to ensure the retake of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) in Islamabad does not go beyond December 30, 2024.

The directive was issued during a meeting chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, where he emphasized the need for timely and fair examinations to address grievances and ensure transparency for thousands of aspiring medical and dental students. Highlighting the performance disparity, Dr. Malani pointed out that students from Tharparkar had performed better than their counterparts in Karachi during the first MDCAT and subsequent retakes. He stressed that such outcomes highlight the need for reforms in the examination process to promote merit-based opportunities nationwide.

The committee reviewed the ongoing MDCAT process, noting that the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) in Islamabad is set to conduct a retake for candidates from AJK, GB, ICT, and international venues, including Dubai and Riyadh, on December 30, 2024.

PMDC officials told the NA health committee that out of the 22,556 candidates registered for the original test on September 22, over 10200 have registered for the retake. University authorities assured the committee of foolproof arrangements for a smooth and transparent examination.

In Sindh, the retake conducted by IBA Sukkur on December 8, 2024, saw a participation rate of 83.26%, with 32,208 out of 38,684 registered candidates appearing. Of these, 35.46% were declared eligible for MBBS and 41.54% for BDS programs.

The highest score of 192 was achieved by four candidates. Despite the overall success, five cases of copying and three incidents of impersonation were reported.

The issue of 30 out-of-syllabus questions in the original MDCAT, which caused significant dissatisfaction among students, was also discussed. The committee recommended aligning future MDCAT schedules with intermediate result declarations to provide students with adequate preparation time.

The Islamabad High Court continues to deliberate on the contentious issue of examination fees, which remains undecided whether to be borne by students or SZAMBU.

To address the systemic challenges, a Reforms Committee has been constituted, holding three meetings to date. Key recommendations include revising the MDCAT syllabus, developing a standardized question bank, restricting candidates to their domicile regions for the test, and ensuring centralized oversight using IT-based solutions. These reforms aim to enhance the integrity and transparency of the examination process.

The meeting was attended by prominent MNAs, including Dr. Darshan, Ms. Zehra Wadood Fatemi, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, and others, along with the secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services, the president of PMDC, and senior officials.

As Pakistan faces challenges in ensuring fairness and efficiency in its medical and dental admissions, the Standing Committee urged the PMDC and other authorities to prioritize merit, transparency, and equity in the examination process.

The timely completion of the MDCAT retake in Islamabad will be a key milestone in addressing students’ concerns and restoring trust in the system.