70,000 MDCAT pass-outs forced abroad as seats remain limited, NA panel told

Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal has told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health that although 96,000 students passed MDCAT 2024, only 22,000 seats were available in medical and dental colleges, forcing more than 70,000 students to seek education abroad and take over $800 million in foreign exchange out of the country every year.

The committee meeting, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, reviewed the implementation of previous recommendations and received a briefing on international medical facilities and public health regulations.

Briefing the committee, the federal minister said medical education standards in several countries were weak, with evidence of poor academic quality, while Pakistan does not allow admission to any medical college for intermediate-fail students. He said that at present no-objection letters were not being issued to all students, clarifying that a university NOC is required for licensing and is issued immediately. He added that there is currently no clear licensing mechanism for local graduates.

Mustafa Kamal informed the committee that a proposal to review restrictions imposed on medical colleges was under consideration. On faculty shortages, he said colleges had suggested they be allowed to prepare teachers themselves if given permission.

Stressing that Pakistan’s medical education standards would not be compromised, the minister proposed making a central licensing test mandatory after graduation. Graduates failing the licensing test would not be allowed to practise, while colleges producing poor results would automatically fall under closure criteria. He noted that re-licensing systems exist worldwide, including in the United States, where doctors are required to undergo testing every five years.

The committee also discussed introducing a transparent monitoring system against substandard colleges. The minister told members that MDCAT graduates returning with foreign medical degrees had also become a national issue, adding that it was the state’s responsibility to protect parents and students from mental and financial distress. He clarified that no final decision had yet been taken and that the matter was currently at the brainstorming stage, assuring the committee that a comprehensive framework would soon be presented.

During the meeting, contradictions in admissions under existing by-laws also surfaced. Members were told that in BDS admissions, a student admitted earlier had been pushed behind, while a private college student moved ahead due to higher marks. The committee expressed reservations over the admissions policy, questioning how an already enrolled student could be transferred at this stage and whether the current by-laws truly align with merit-based principles.

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Members said the aim had been to ensure students faced no difficulties in 2025, but a new admissions-related issue had now emerged. They questioned whether any practical exercise had been carried out earlier to address the problem.

Declaring legislation unavoidable for changes in admissions policy, the committee said increasing seats for every college was not possible and stressed the need for amendments in the law. It was noted that possible changes could be considered in the session scheduled for the 12th.