ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has decided to remove the requirement for Pakistani students to pass the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) to enrol in medical and dental institutions abroad.
According to a public notice issued by the council, Pakistani nationals seeking admission to foreign medical and dental colleges will no longer be required to qualify the MDCAT. The exemption applies to students intending to pursue medical or dental education at institutions outside Pakistan.
The decision reverses the policy introduced by the PMDC in May 2026, which required Pakistani students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges abroad to pass the MDCAT and register with the council beforehand.
The earlier requirement was introduced after a high-level sub-committee meeting and was aimed at maintaining education standards and avoiding recognition and licensing issues for students returning to Pakistan. Senate panels later questioned the legal basis of the mandatory condition and called for a review of the framework governing admissions to foreign institutions.
In a related development, the PMDC has confirmed that the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme will remain a four-year course.
ALSO READ
Islamabad Police terminates services of 27 temporary law officers
Council officials told the Senate Standing Committee on Health that a previous notification extending the duration of dental education to five years had been withdrawn. The committee directed the PMDC to issue a formal notification confirming the four-year structure.
The five-year BDS programme was originally announced in late 2024, but its implementation was later deferred following concerns raised by private dental colleges over infrastructure and faculty requirements. The latest decision restores the previous four-year duration of academic study.
