PMDC
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced a significant change in the structure of dental education by extending the duration of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from four to five years.
This decision is part of PMDC’s efforts to bring Pakistan’s dental education in line with global standards and enhance the quality of training provided to future dental professionals.
Under the revised program, the fifth year of the BDS curriculum will be dedicated to clerkship.
This year will focus on practical training, enabling students to gain hands-on experience and apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world clinical settings.
Additionally, a one-year mandatory house job will follow, providing graduates with further practical exposure and professional readiness before entering the workforce as licensed dentists.
The PMDC has officially communicated this decision to all universities across Pakistan, instructing them to adopt the new five-year structure. The implementation of this updated curriculum is set to begin with the 2024-25 academic session.
The aim is to standardize dental education nationwide and ensure that Pakistani dental graduates are on par with their international counterparts.
Notably, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) in Lahore had already implemented a five-year BDS program. Now, other universities in Pakistan are required to align with this model.
The introduction of an additional academic year is expected to strengthen the overall competency of dental professionals by providing them with comprehensive training in both theoretical and practical aspects of dentistry.
This reform underscores PMDC’s commitment to advancing medical and dental education in Pakistan.
By aligning the country’s educational standards with international norms, the council aims to produce skilled professionals capable of meeting the growing demands of the dental healthcare sector, both locally and globally.
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