PMDC says medical students must qualify for MDCAT, obtain registration before going abroad

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Tuesday announced that students intending to pursue medical or dental education abroad must qualify for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and obtain registration before going abroad. According to a statement, the PMDC informed that a high-level committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is currently overseeing the strengthening of the regulatory framework for medical and dental education in Pakistan. It said that a meeting of the PMDC’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation of Medical and Dental Colleges and Postgraduate Qualifications was held today to “review ongoing reforms and regulatory measures to strengthen medical and dental education in Pakistan”. “The sub-committee is focused on enhancing transparency, standardising accreditation mechanisms for medical and dental colleges, and streamlining the recognition process inspections for undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in line with international standards,” it added. During the meeting, PMDC said that detailed discussions were held regarding the inspection processes of medical and dental colleges’ undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The sub-committee appreciated the ongoing efforts to ensure smooth, transparent and merit-based inspections of institutions, it said, adding that committee members were briefed on the latest reforms, updated procedures and mechanisms introduced to improve the quality and credibility of inspections conducted so far. “The sub-committee emphasised that there should be no compromise on inspection standards and procedures, restating a policy of zero tolerance toward any negligence, irregularity, or lack of compliance in the accreditation process. “The meeting participants stressed the importance of maintaining the highest standards of medical and dental education to safeguard the future of healthcare in Pakistan,” it stated. The meeting also discussed matters related to foreign graduates, i