The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) plans to introduce an electronic assessment system for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) starting next year. This center-based examination will utilize existing Higher Education Commission (HEC) internet portals to enhance security, reducing the reliance on online assessments.
A newly formed seven-member committee, comprising representatives from all provinces, has been tasked with improving the MDCAT’s transparency and efficiency. The committee’s responsibilities include addressing logistical issues, minimizing errors, and adopting IT-based solutions to streamline the examination process.
The committee is exploring options for a centralized or university-specific test format, developing a standardized syllabus, and aligning the MDCAT with intermediate examinations to reduce reliance on tuition centers. During its inaugural meeting, the committee reviewed performance data from universities, including top scores, and discussed the participation of 167,772 candidates registered for the 2024 MDCAT, both domestically and internationally.
The meeting also addressed court-mandated retakes of the MDCAT in Sindh and Islamabad, prompted by allegations of irregularities such as exam malpractice and out-of-syllabus questions. The Sindh High Court and Islamabad High Court have ordered re-examinations at specific universities in Sindh and the federal capital to ensure fairness and integrity.
These legal challenges underscore the urgency of PMDC’s efforts to reform the MDCAT process. Enhancing the transparency and reliability of the test is essential for its role as a gateway for admissions to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan.
