Hundreds of seats in medical and dental colleges across Pakistan remained unfilled in the 2025–26 academic year. The situation has raised concerns about declining interest in healthcare education. According to private channel, 743 seats stayed vacant despite multiple policy adjustments.
Vacant seats across provinces
Official data shows that 608 seats in Bachelor of Dental Surgery and 135 in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery remained unfilled. Authorities extended admissions by 45 days and lowered merit requirements, but the gap persisted.
Moreover, out of more than 22,300 total seats in 187 institutions, vacancies were reported across the country. Punjab recorded 381 empty seats, while Sindh had 295. Islamabad reported 50 vacant seats, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had 17.
Despite these gaps, over 140,000 students registered for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test. Around 90,000 candidates passed the exam. However, a large number of seats still remained unoccupied even after eligibility improvements.
System challenges and expert concerns
Pakistan Medical and Dental Council earlier advised against expanding new medical colleges. It cited infrastructure limitations and faculty shortages as key concerns.
Moreover, officials reported a shortage of more than 3,800 medical teachers nationwide. The system requires 26,018 faculty members, but only 22,146 are currently available. This gap continues to strain medical education quality.
Experts also say that 25,000 to 30,000 Pakistani students study medicine and dentistry abroad. They link the vacant seats to rising tuition fees, concerns about academic standards, and uncertain career prospects in Pakistan.
As a result, policymakers now face pressure to improve both education quality and professional opportunities within the healthcare sector.
