Key Takeaways
- PMDC instructed universities to ensure the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) is conducted smoothly and transparently.
- 138,158 candidates have registered for the 2026 MDCAT, to be held in 35 cities and an international centre in Saudi Arabia.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that the MDCAT be conducted with zero tolerance for any compromise on its integrity.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has directed universities to ensure that the upcoming Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), scheduled for September 20, 2026, is conducted in a smooth and transparent manner. This directive was given during a meeting attended by the vice chancellors of universities conducting the examination.
PMDC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj informed the meeting that the MDCAT is a critical step for admission to medical and dental colleges in Pakistan, with up to 200,000 candidates appearing for the test each year, while around 25,000 secure seats in public and private medical and dental colleges.
A total of 138,158 candidates have registered for the 2026 MDCAT, which will be conducted in 35 cities and towns across Pakistan, as well as at an international centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The PMDC has provided unified regulatory standards for the MDCAT papers, with responsibility for the on-ground conduct and administrative arrangements of the examination resting with the provincial authorities and universities.
The PMDC President also informed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed that the MDCAT be conducted smoothly, in a highly transparent, fair, and orderly manner, with zero tolerance for any compromise on its integrity. He emphasized strict adherence to policies and guidelines.
The meeting also reviewed arrangements for medical support, emergency response, and facilitation services at examination centres to ensure a safe and conducive environment for all candidates, including those from Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The vice chancellors and representatives of the provincial authorities assured the PMDC president that all these requirements would be met and the necessary arrangements completed in time.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) had previously called for complete transparency and foolproof security in MDCAT, while demanding an immediate independent forensic audit of private medical and dental colleges across the country. PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro reiterated the association’s longstanding concerns over the country’s reliance on high-stakes entrance examinations as the primary mechanism for selecting students for medical education.
Dr Shoro said repeated controversies surrounding the MDCAT, including allegations of paper leaks, administrative mismanagement, and other irregularities involving different testing bodies in previous years, had undermined public confidence in the examination process.
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) health secretary had met PMDC officials and highlighted the difficulties being faced by students in completing their MDCAT registration due to the prolonged internet shutdown in the region. PMDC officials had vowed to provide all possible facilitation to the candidates.
In a statement, the PMDC said it would continue to work closely with universities and provincial authorities to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place to conduct the MDCAT smoothly and transparently.
