PMDC Blasted in Parliament Over MDCAT Scandals, Corruption, and Regulatory Collapse

PMDC Blasted in Parliament Over MDCAT Scandals, Corruption, and Regulatory Collapse

by: Nadeem Tanoli

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) is facing an unprecedented backlash from lawmakers, as a parliamentary committee accused it of systemic regulatory failures, corruption in medical college registrations, and a chaotic approach to managing the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT). The committee called for immediate federal intervention, claiming the PMDC had lost all credibility and was jeopardizing the future of Pakistan’s medical students.

The session turned critical when members dissected PMDC’s controversial role in administering MDCAT, Pakistan’s key entry exam for medical colleges. Several lawmakers argued that PMDC, as a regulatory body, should not be conducting examinations and proposed handing over the responsibility to provinces, which they claimed have historically shown more transparency. Others maintained that a central authority is essential to uphold national education standards but admitted that PMDC had consistently failed to deliver with integrity.

The discussion highlighted repeated paper leaks, compromised board result weightage, and alleged tampering in student scores. The committee demanded a rebalancing of the exam structure by reducing the 50% reliance on intermediate results and increasing MDCAT’s contribution in order to restore academic merit in admissions.

PMDC defended its role, announcing a revamped MDCAT scheduled for October 5, with a unified syllabus and adjusted exam format agreed upon with provincial stakeholders. Officials claimed the revisions were designed to prevent previous errors and promote fairness, but lawmakers remained unconvinced.

Graver concerns emerged around PMDC’s broader governance collapse. A group of 109 Pakistani students, who graduated from WHO-listed medical universities in Kyrgyzstan, are now barred from licensing exams due to abrupt changes in PMDC’s recognition policy. Lawmakers called this reversal cruel and inconsistent, referring the matter to the federal health minister for emergency action.

Another major case involved Al-Nafees Medical College, where students were reportedly failed after the PMDC blocked a remedial exam organized to fix assessment discrepancies. The committee condemned the action and demanded the seized papers be re-evaluated under ministerial supervision.

The most damning revelation came with confirmation that 18 medical colleges—granted provisional recognition by PMDC—are now under investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for bypassing legal procedures. Lawmakers decried this as evidence of deep-rooted corruption and regulatory capture, leaving thousands of students uncertain about their qualifications.

In response to what they called an institutional breakdown, the committee moved to place several cases under direct control of the Ministry of Health, bypassing PMDC altogether. The move reflects the extent of distrust and the urgency lawmakers feel to protect educational standards in Pakistan’s medical sector.

One parliamentarian summed up the mood: “This isn’t just about exams—it’s about institutional collapse, unchecked corruption, and the future of healthcare.”