unchecked growth of institutions has created significant challenges.
Pakistan has imposed a three-year ban on the establishment of new medical colleges, citing serious concerns about academic standards and faculty shortages.
The three-year ban was confirmed by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) President, Dr Rizwan Taj.
He confirmed it during a Senate Standing Committee meeting on National Health Services.
The decision comes amid mounting pressure on the healthcare education sector, where rapid expansion has outpaced the availability of trained teaching staff.
Dr Taj explained that the unchecked growth of institutions has created significant challenges.
Many lack the proper faculty and facilities to uphold quality medical education.
He said PMDC wants to first stabilise existing institutions before allowing any further expansion in the sector.
The announcement was made during a committee session chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin.
During the meeting, proposed amendments to the PMDC Bill were also discussed.
One key debate involved whether parliamentarians should have seats on the PMDC board.
Senator Humayun Mohmand advocated for their inclusion.
He argued that, like other regulatory bodies, PMDC should include elected representatives to ensure broader accountability and oversight.
However, Dr Taj firmly opposed the proposal.
He warned that political participation could harm PMDC’s autonomy and potentially increase lobbying and external pressure.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal supported Dr Taj’s stance.
He said political influence had already damaged the system and further involvement would only worsen the situation.
Kamal stressed: “This is not a platform for political agendas.
“The system already struggles under political pressure and unqualified recommendations.”
Chairman Amir Waliuddin, however, insisted that politicians have served on the board before.
He questioned why this precedent could not be repeated.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui also weighed in, suggesting political involvement isn’t always negative.
He argued that current issues like exam confusion and admission disputes still exist without politicians in the boardroom.
He proposed that the bill undergo more consultation to build consensus.
The committee agreed to postpone the debate until further discussions with PMDC.
Meanwhile, Deputy Registrar Dr Imdad Khushk gave an update on the upcoming Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).
Originally set with 200 questions in 3.5 hours, the paper has been revised to 180 questions in three hours based on parent feedback.
The nationwide exam will now be held on October 5, 2025.
To ensure quality, PMDC is preparing a verified pool of 10,000 multiple-choice questions.
This move follows earlier complaints about out-of-syllabus content and inconsistent question standards in previous years.
As reforms unfold, PMDC insists its focus will remain on restoring quality and ensuring future doctors are trained under consistent, professional conditions.
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