The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has restored the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program to four years.
The decision reverses an earlier move to extend the dental degree to five years.
PMDC Withdraws Five-Year BDS Notification
PMDC officials informed the Senate Standing Committee on Health that the council had withdrawn its previous notification extending the BDS program.
The committee directed PMDC to issue a formal notification confirming the four-year duration.
The decision provides clarity for dental students and institutions following months of uncertainty over the program’s duration.
Five-Year BDS Plan Faced College Concerns
In November 2024, PMDC had announced plans to increase the BDS program from four years to five years.
The change was scheduled to apply from the 2024-25 academic session.
The decision followed recommendations from a committee of dental experts. The proposed extension aimed to bring Pakistan’s dental education standards closer to international practices.
However, the implementation faced concerns from private dental colleges.
Private Colleges Raised Infrastructure Issues
Private dental colleges argued that many institutions lacked the infrastructure and faculty needed to support an additional academic year.
They also raised concerns about other logistical requirements associated with the five-year program.
PMDC later postponed implementation of the extended program for one year in January 2025.
The council has now withdrawn the five-year plan altogether, restoring the BDS program to its previous four-year duration.
