Recently Pakistan’s PMDC has postponed MBBS and BDS admissions for 2024. The whole admissions process for MBBS and BDS programs in all medical and dental colleges throughout Pakistan has been formally delayed by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). Due to ongoing investigations into exam irregularities and questions that were not part of the syllabus, the Sindh High Court (SHC) and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued restraining orders temporarily suspending the MDCAT 2024 results. The investigation into this halt in MBBS and BDS admissions throughout Pakistan is still ongoing, and a final decision is expected soon. For the most recent information on Pakistan’s MBBS and BDS admissions for 2024, stay tuned. 

Medical Admissions Delay Ordered By The Court 

Recently, PMDC authorities stated that all Pakistani medical schools must follow the court’s orders to stop admitting students to the MBBS and BDS programs this year. The SHC and IHC investigate allegations of wrongdoing or anomalies in the MDCAT exam 2024, such as claims of out-of-syllabus questions in Islamabad and MDCAT paper leaks in Sindh. By the end of this month (October 2024), the courts are anticipated to issue their final decisions. 

MDCAT Results’ Effect on the Nation 

Since the MDCAT results from Dow University of Health Sciences and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) are applicable countrywide under PMDC regulations, these institutions’ results are specifically being examined. According to PMDC authorities, no medical or dental college in Pakistan can proceed with medical or dentistry admissions until the courts settle the case. 

In an interview, PMDC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj confirmed the suspension of admission, saying, “We have instructed all public and private medical colleges to halt the admission process.” All admissions can occur once the courts have rendered their findings and the high court rulings are valid nationwide. 

Claims Of Irregularities And MDCAT Paper Leakage 

Several Sindhi students’ worries about a potential leak of the MDCAT exam paper sparked the controversy, which resulted in numerous petitions and the suspension of admissions. More than 38,000 applicants took the MDCAT in Sindh alone, and some students’ abnormally high marks raised questions about possible malpractice. The SHC observed significant discrepancies in student performance, significantly when students who fared poorly on their board exams performed exceptionally well or received surprising scores on the MDCAT. 

Special Investigative Committees Established 

To alleviate these worries, the SHC has established a committee to examine the exam’s legitimacy and determine potential criminal or civil liability. It is anticipated that the Sindh committee, constituted by Sindh’s Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and chaired by Dr. Shireen Mustafa, will present its conclusions or evidence within 15 days. A commission headed by Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University Vice Chancellor Prof. Iqbal Khan is also looking into accusations of test irregularities and out-of-syllabus questions in Islamabad. 

Varied MDCAT Results Raised Concerns 

More than 160,000 students took the MDCAT countrywide; however, the results have been questioned because of the stark differences in performance between regions. For instance, only 38 out of 42,336 students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received the same results as 2,841 out of 58,389 students in Punjab. On the other hand, Sindh reported an abnormally large number of top scorers, which fueled further accusations of cheating or malpractice. 

PMDC Draws Attention to MDCAT’s Integrity 

The PMDC has stated that it will completely cooperate with the courts, as have officials, including university officials and health secretaries. The PMDC emphasizes that the integrity of the medical admissions process must be halted at this time, even while it recognizes the necessity of safeguarding students’ futures. With the last court hearings set for late October 2024, the future of thousands of prospective medical students is now in jeopardy. Both high courts are anticipated to render decisions that shed light on Pakistan’s future medical and dentistry admittance policies in the upcoming weeks. 

Date Extensions for Admission 

Pakistan’s highly competitive medical admissions process is even more difficult because of the recent controversy surrounding the MDCAT, which has already experienced issues and disruptions. Students and medical schools must wait for the final decision, which will dictate the following stages for the 2024 admissions, while the courts continue their investigations. Students do not have to worry about missing admissions deadlines, either, because Pakistan’s medical and dentistry school deadlines will also be extended by the process’s delay.