Senate Panel Raises Concerns Over MDCAT Complaints and Exam Schedule
MDCAT complaints dominated a Senate subcommittee meeting on Tuesday as lawmakers raised concerns about the conduct of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test and its schedule. The committee reviewed issues affecting students and questioned officials from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). Members also called for greater transparency and better coordination before this year’s examination.
Lawmakers Review Student Concerns
The subcommittee, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, expressed concern over the rising number of complaints received from students and parents. She said the committee had received nearly 1,000 complaints related to the admission test. Therefore, lawmakers decided to closely examine the issues before the examination takes place.
The committee also criticized the repeated absence of Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. Members noted that they had rescheduled the meeting three times because of his absence. However, the minister later joined the session and responded to lawmakers’ questions.
PMDC officials informed the committee that this year’s MDCAT would take place in 36 cities. The test will be held in 35 cities across Pakistan and one centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, officials expect around 135,000 candidates to appear in the examination.
Senator Rahman also questioned the role of private coaching academies that charge high preparation fees. She raised concerns that FSc students study A-Level material, while A-Level students reportedly prepare from FSc content.
PMDC Defends the Current System
PMDC officials said the MDCAT takes place on a single day every year. They added that the previous examination received very few complaints. Meanwhile, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal acknowledged that improvements remain possible. However, he encouraged students to submit their concerns directly to the PMDC.
The minister also criticized expensive coaching academies. He claimed that some academy operators were creating unnecessary panic among students and parents. Furthermore, he maintained that the existing examination system was functioning effectively.
The committee also discussed the examination schedule. PMDC officials said final FSc and A-Level exams ended on July 20, leaving students with a three-week gap before the MDCAT.
