ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has approved a one-time reduction of up to 3% in MDCAT passing marks to fill vacant MBBS and BDS seats for the 2025–26 academic session.
Universities must first admit applicants from the existing merit-based pool according to the new admission standards. If seats remain unfilled, institutions may lower the passing threshold to 52% for MBBS and 47% for BDS.
The council clarified that this relaxation is strictly limited to vacant seats and must be implemented with transparency and institutional accountability. All admissions already completed under the 2025 regulations will remain valid.
The authorities established April 15, 2026, as the ultimate deadline, which requires provincial health departments and universities to achieve complete compliance or face legal penalties.
The PMDC has encouraged private medical and dental colleges to reduce tuition fees from the current capped limit of Rs1.89 million (with a 5% annual increase) to make education more accessible for deserving students.
The move follows national-level consultations, including input from parliamentary committees, to address the growing issue of unfilled seats. The proposal has drawn criticism from various stakeholders involved in the process.
Some education experts argue that lowering merit thresholds could compromise academic standards and damage the international reputation of Pakistani medical graduates.
Concerns have also been raised about high tuition fees, with claims that some private colleges continue charging between Rs.2.5 million and Rs.2.9 million for earlier sessions despite regulatory directions. The PMDC maintains that all policy decisions are reviewed and approved by its council before implementation.
PMDC changes MDCAT Policy
Earlier, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had decided to overhaul the MDCAT examination schedule to reduce dependence on coaching academies.
The new policy will be implemented from the next academic cycle. The PMDC has announced a significant change in the medical college admission policy, with MDCAT exams to be conducted shortly after intermediate exams.
Under the decision, MDCAT tests across the country will begin just six days after the FSc exams.
According to the Federal Health Minister, Mustafa Kamal, the decision was taken on the special instructions of the prime minister.
He further said that the primary objective of the move is to eliminate the influence of the so-called “academy mafia” that thrives on the current system.
