A Senate health panel has raised concerns over requiring foreign-educated medical students to appear in the MDCAT examination.
The issue emerged during a meeting of the Senate Sub-Committee on Health held in Islamabad. Senator Anusha Rehman chaired the session and questioned officials from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council regarding MDCAT 2026 policies.
Committee members sought clarification about the legal basis for requiring students from foreign medical colleges to take the examination after returning to Pakistan.
Committee Demands Legal Justification
During the meeting, Senator Anusha Rehman asked under which law overseas medical students must return and sit for the PMDC examination. She noted that students studying abroad complete their education and return as qualified doctors. Therefore, she questioned the necessity of additional testing requirements.
Furthermore, the committee asked PMDC officials to explain the legal framework supporting such examinations. Members also questioned how the regulatory body developed the policy. The convener criticized what she described as unilateral decision-making by the council. She argued that regulatory decisions should remain within a clear legal framework.
PMDC Defends Its Position
In response, PMDC officials stated that graduates from some foreign medical institutions create challenges for the council. Officials argued that concerns regarding educational standards abroad affect the quality assessment process in Pakistan. However, the committee remained unconvinced by the explanation.
Senator Anusha Rehman maintained that substandard education in foreign institutions should not automatically become PMDC’s responsibility. She stressed that the council must justify its policies through existing laws and regulations.
Moreover, she expressed concern over the implementation of decisions without sufficient consultation or legal clarity. The committee is expected to continue reviewing the matter as discussions over MDCAT 2026 requirements move forward.
