The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has approved around 1,400 seats in public-sector medical and dental colleges across Pakistan.
The approvals cover institutions in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad. The council said the decisions were made under the applicable legal and regulatory framework.
Seats Approved for Underserved Areas
According to the PMDC, the move is aimed at improving access to medical education for students from underserved and less-developed areas.
The council said increasing opportunities within Pakistan could also reduce the need for students to travel abroad for professional education.
The decision is expected to provide more students with opportunities to pursue medical and dental degrees within the country.
The PMDC said seat allocations are made after considering regulatory requirements and the capacity of institutions to provide appropriate educational and clinical facilities.
PMDC Rejects Private College Advantage
The council also rejected the impression that private medical colleges are receiving more seats than public-sector institutions.
It said the same regulatory standards apply to both public and private medical and dental colleges. These standards cover educational quality, clinical training and other requirements.
The PMDC stressed that increasing the number of seats would not come at the expense of patient safety or the quality of medical education.
Focus on Quality Medical Education
The council said it remains focused on expanding access to affordable and quality medical education in Pakistan.
It also said students should have greater opportunities to complete their professional education domestically.
The PMDC maintained that seat approvals will continue to follow the relevant laws, regulations and institutional requirements.
The council said its broader objective is to strengthen medical education while ensuring that students receive adequate academic and clinical training before entering the healthcare profession.
