The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services has directed the federal government to implement a three-year validity policy for MDCAT results.
Committee Chairman Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani issued the direction during a meeting on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, senior ministry officials, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) representatives and private medical university vice-chancellors attended the meeting.
The committee discussed extending the validity of Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) scores. Malani directed the health minister to ensure implementation of the decision.
Three-Year Validity Already Exists Under Law
Section 17(4) of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Act, 2022, states that an MDCAT result remains valid nationwide for three years.
However, questions surrounding its implementation and application have created uncertainty among medical admission candidates.
The issue has also prompted legal challenges and concerns about differences in examination standards across years.
The latest committee direction seeks to address these concerns and ensure clarity for students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges.
Committee Reviews Medical College Fees and Examinations
The meeting also examined the inspection process for private medical colleges. Malani requested a report covering inspections conducted over the previous two years.
He questioned how authorities inspect institutions and what action they take against colleges that fail to meet regulatory requirements.
During the briefing, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said 65 private institutions had reported high operating costs to the PMDC. Of these, 35 submitted detailed financial breakdowns.
The minister said these 35 colleges were permitted to charge annual tuition fees between Rs1.8 million and Rs2.1 million.
The committee also discussed the MDCAT examination process. A proposal suggested providing candidates with their question papers after the examination. Malani directed authorities to implement the proposal in the next MDCAT.
The meeting further raised concerns about frequent transfers and replacements of health ministry secretaries.
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