Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has called for a review of the country’s medical seat cap after being informed that around 93,000 students who qualify for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) are unable to secure admission.
The committee, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, discussed a report presented by Senator Anusha Rahman, Convenor of its Sub-Committee on MDCAT, medical education and admissions.
According to the report, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) currently limits annual medical seats to around 22,300.
Committee members raised concerns that the existing limit may not be sufficient to address Pakistan’s growing healthcare requirements and the demand for medical education.
The committee urged PMDC to reconsider the current cap, strengthen oversight and regulation, and engage more meaningfully with private medical colleges when developing policies related to medical admissions and education.
The discussion also highlighted the wider challenge of balancing the quality of medical education with the country’s need for more trained healthcare professionals.
