Pakistani students to pass MDCAT exam before enrolling in any foreign medical college

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has made it mandatory for Pakistani students aspiring to pursue medical education abroad to pass the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) in the country.

PMDC Executive Committee member Jawad Amin Khan said that many students who clear the Intermediate Pre-Medical exam often secure admissions to MBBS and bachelor dentistry programmes in foreign medical colleges through agents based in Pakistan. However, the PMDC doesn't have detailed information about these institutions, including their admission policies, curricula, facilities, or even the number of Pakistani students enrolled.

To address these concerns, Amin Khan said that the PMDC has made it compulsory for students to register for and clear the MDCAT exam before enrolling in any foreign medical college. After passing MDCAT, students will receive a certificate, which will facilitate their registration with the PMDC.

"This initiative will help PMDC collect comprehensive data on students enrolling in foreign medical institutions and ensure they meet the necessary standards," Khan said, adding that a detailed policy regarding this decision will be released soon.

He highlighted the challenges faced by students who complete their medical education in smaller foreign countries.

Only about 2% of these graduates successfully pass the PMDC equivalency test. To address this, the PMDC has delegated the responsibility of conducting equivalency tests to the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS).

Only students who clear these tests will be registered as doctors with the PMDC.

The PMDC also plans to inspect medical colleges in smaller countries, with inspections carried out by PMDC officials.