Islamabad, Pakistan – The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHSR&C), chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chisti, convened this Wednesday to address key issues impacting Pakistan’s medical education system. The committee focused on annual fee hikes by private medical colleges and alleged leaks in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) held last month, aiming to reform these areas to benefit students and uphold educational standards.
Key Discussions on Medical Education Fees
The committee voiced concerns regarding private medical colleges’ fee structures. Senator Irfan ul Haque Siddiqui highlighted that some institutions have been raising fees during students’ academic careers, a practice that appears to contradict regulations. Under current laws, private colleges are prohibited from mid-course fee increases and must offer a discount—4% for full-fee payments or 2% for lump-sum payments.
The committee directed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to investigate fee hikes and submit a report within two weeks. The report will scrutinize whether colleges are abiding by rebate policies and adhering to fee stability laws, a measure intended to relieve financial pressure on students and their families.
In response to these issues, the committee has established a sub-committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, to further examine the fee policies and potential remedies for the system.
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MDCAT Exam Leak Allegations and Calls for IT-Based Reforms
During the meeting, the committee also addressed allegations of a paper leak in the MDCAT exam administered on September 22, 2024. Concerns were raised that portions of the exam were accessible prior to the test, potentially compromising the results’ fairness. Officials from the PMDC explained that six questions from the test were reportedly circulated at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University. The PMDC reported that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) conducted a thorough probe and found no evidence of a leak. Nevertheless, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the current system, especially in light of claims that exam difficulty levels varied significantly between provinces.
Senator Chisti emphasized the urgent need for a more secure and equitable MDCAT exam framework. He called for an IT-based solution that could reduce human intervention, minimizing the risk of malpractice and ensuring that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed. “The future of our medical students hinges on this examination,” he stated, underscoring the importance of implementing a transparent, secure, and standardized testing system.
Roadmap for Reforms
The Senate committee has mandated the PMDC to devise and implement a new IT-based MDCAT system within three months. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the test’s integrity, addressing regional discrepancies, and securing the exam process against potential leaks. The proposed overhaul underscores the committee’s commitment to bolstering transparency and maintaining high educational standards across Pakistan’s medical institutions.
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Moving Forward: A Commitment to Students
With influential Senators and health officials in attendance, including Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, and Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, PM Coordinator for NHSR&C, the committee’s deliberations reflect a strong push toward meaningful reform. By holding private medical institutions accountable for fee structures and introducing modernized systems for MDCAT, the Senate committee hopes to create a fairer, more accessible educational environment for Pakistan’s aspiring medical professionals.
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