PMDC makes MDCAT mandatory for students seeking medical education abroad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has made it mandatory for students seeking admission to medical and dental institutions abroad to qualify for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and obtain registration prior to departure.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PMDC said that Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level committee meeting focused on strengthening the regulatory framework for medical and dental education in Pakistan.

According to the statement, the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of Medical and Dental Colleges and Postgraduate Qualifications reviewed ongoing reforms and regulatory measures aimed at improving medical and dental education standards.

During the meeting, the committee resolved that all students intending to pursue medical or dental education abroad must mandatorily qualify for the MDCAT examination and secure registration with the PMDC before leaving Pakistan.

The council said the step was intended to prevent future complications related to recognition, licensing and registration.

The committee also stressed that students must verify whether the foreign medical institution they intended to join was included in the list of recognised institutions maintained by the PMDC before applying for admission.

According to the guidelines, the institution must either be accredited by the World Federation for Medical Education or listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

The committee further stated that the medical qualification must include at least 6,200 hours of education with a minimum attendance requirement of 80% over a period of five years.

The council also advised students planning to study in countries where English is not the medium of instruction to spend at least five months learning the local language before beginning their studies to ensure effective communication and academic understanding.

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Following completion of their foreign medical qualification, students will also be required to pass PMDC’s National Registration Examination in order to obtain registration in Pakistan.

The committee additionally directed students to provide complete details of their residence and contact numbers in the country where they planned to study before departure.

Students were also advised to obtain a multiple-entry visa valid for the duration of their studies before leaving Pakistan.

The PMDC said the measures had been introduced to safeguard the academic and professional future of Pakistani medical students and to ensure graduates met national and international standards for medical practice.