The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced an important new policy for students who want to study medicine or dentistry abroad. From now on, all such students must first pass the MDCAT exam and get registered with the PMDC before leaving Pakistan.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, where the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of Medical and Dental Colleges reviewed ongoing reforms to improve medical education standards in the country.
The PMDC made it clear that there will be absolutely no compromise on inspection standards and that the council has zero tolerance for any irregularity or negligence in the accreditation process.
What Students Need to Know:
1. MDCAT is Now Compulsory All students planning to study medicine or dentistry abroad must clear the MDCAT and obtain PMDC registration before departure — no exceptions.
2. Choose a Recognised Institution Students must make sure that the foreign university they plan to join is included in PMDC’s list of recognised institutions. The institution must also be accredited by the World Federation for Medical Education or listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
3. Minimum Education Hours The medical degree must include at least 6,200 hours of education, with a minimum attendance of 80 percent over five years.
4. Language Requirement Students going to countries where the medium of instruction is not English must spend at least five months learning the local language before starting their medical studies. This is to ensure they can communicate effectively and follow their academic programme properly.
5. Multiple Entry Visa Students must obtain a multiple-entry visa valid for the full duration of their studies before travelling abroad.
6. Provide Contact Details Before leaving Pakistan, students must provide their full residential address and contact number in the country where they will be studying.
7. Return Exam Required When students come back to Pakistan after completing their degree abroad, they will be required to pass the National Registration Examination conducted by the PMDC in order to get registered and practice medicine in Pakistan.
The committee stated that all these measures have been introduced to protect the academic and professional future of Pakistani medical students and to ensure that graduates meet both national and international standards for medical practice.
