PM&DC meets to address student concerns over 2025–26 admissions
The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council held a high-level meeting in Islamabad to ease student concerns and clarify its 2025–26 admission policy.
The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council convened a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday as student anxiety over the 2025–26 admissions cycle grew amid recent media reports.
The council acted after acknowledging the stress and uncertainty affecting thousands of candidates preparing for entry into medical and dental colleges. Officials said the meeting aimed to address concerns directly and provide clarity during what they described as a crucial stage in students’ academic paths.
Read More: PMDC President Calls for Stringent Measures to Ensure Transparency in MDCAT 2024
All principal stakeholders were invited. Council members, vice chancellors, representatives from the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen and legal experts joined the session at the PM&DC headquarters. Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, who chairs the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, attended as a special invitee. His participation signaled the level of political attention the matter has drawn as pressure from student groups increased in recent weeks.
The council said it called the gathering to ensure no avenue was left unexplored in finding solutions that ease student concerns. Officials stressed that the objective was to extend maximum relief and facilitation and to give applicants certainty as they prepare for one of the most competitive admissions cycles in the country. They described students as part of the council’s “own family” and reaffirmed an institutional commitment to support them on every platform available.
During the meeting, PM&DC members addressed the legal framework that governs the admission process, including the validity of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test. The council clarified that the three-year MDCAT validity period is defined explicitly by law and falls under the authority of Parliament. Despite that limitation, members reiterated that the council will always act to safeguard student interests and will not compromise on their academic future. The statement sought to reassure candidates worried about conflicting interpretations of the rules as they prepare documentation and exam results for the next session.
The council also reviewed the concerns shared by student groups in recent engagements. Officials said every suggestion had been examined carefully and would be factored into the council’s approach as legal proceedings continue. PM&DC pledged to extend full cooperation in court, presenting all viable options openly to ensure the highest degree of relief and facilitation. According to the council, transparency will remain central during this process, and the court’s final decision will be binding on all institutions and applicants without exception.
In its concluding remarks, the council committed to implementing the eventual ruling in full, emphasizing that consistent and uniform application of the decision is essential to fairness. Officials said the goal is to enable each student to advance in the admissions process with confidence, free from procedural ambiguity. They noted that the current period is particularly sensitive for candidates, many of whom are balancing exam preparation with uncertainties about policy interpretation.
PM&DC’s intervention comes at a time when national debate over medical and dental admissions remains intense. While the council did not announce policy changes, it underscored that its priority is to protect students and maintain clarity in a system often marked by legal disputes and shifting regulatory expectations. The assurance of full cooperation and strict adherence to the court’s directions reflects its attempt to stabilize the process ahead of the next academic cycle.
