The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has taken a significant step towards improving the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) by forming a seven-member committee. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in future MDCAT exams. A formal notification regarding the committee’s formation was issued by PMDC Registrar Dr. Shaista.
The committee will be led by Major General Muhammad Suhail Amin, Principal of Army Medical College Rawalpindi, with Dr. Sameera Ehsan, PMDC’s Director of Medical Education, serving as its secretary. Other members include Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University Islamabad Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Khyber Medical University Peshawar Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Ziaul Haq, Inter-Board Coordination Commission Executive Director Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority IT Consultant Dr. Muhammad Tanveer Afzal, and PMDC Deputy Director Ahmed Raza.
As per the notification, the committee has been tasked with identifying key challenges in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) process for 2024. It will propose reforms to minimize human errors, ensure transparency, and integrate IT-based solutions into the examination system. A primary focus will be the creation of a standardized question bank aligned with a uniform syllabus nationwide. The chairman has the authority to include additional members when necessary to address specific concerns.
The PMDC is also exploring various proposals to overhaul the MDCAT system. These include conducting the test at a centralized national level or allowing individual universities to organize their own admissions tests. Another suggestion under review is scheduling the MDCAT immediately after intermediate exams to curb the influence of tuition academies profiting from test preparation.
This move follows a Sindh High Court order on October 26, which directed provincial authorities to retake the MDCAT within four weeks. The directive came after an inquiry revealed that the test conducted in September was compromised in Sindh, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the process.
The reforms aim to restore confidence in the admission process, ensuring a fair and merit-based system for aspiring medical and dental students across Pakistan.
