PMC, Sindh debate rages on

Future doctors at risk as Centre, province lock horns over pass percentage

KARACHI:

The ongoing dispute between the federal and Sindh governments has troubled candidates seeking admission in medical and dental colleges of the province.

The Pakistan Medical Council (PMC), which is run by the federal government, had declared that candidates seeking admission to medical and dental colleges across the country for the year 2021-22 must obtain 65% marks in the MDCAT examination.

The PMC also said that under its uniform policy, admissions would be given in medical colleges across the country. However, just like last year, the Sindh government has once again recorded its objection to the PMC policy.

Sindh candidates said that questions from the Punjab syllabus were asked from them in the MDCAT test. "Therefore, the candidates from Sindh could not get the required marks as prescribed by the PMC in MDCAT examination. Even last year, thousands of seats could not be filled in Sindh colleges," one of the candidates said.

This year, 118,000 candidates had applied for admissions in medical colleges across the country, out of which only 7,000 from Sindh were declared successful. At present, there are 2,400 seats for MBBS and 500 seats for BDS in government medical colleges of Sindh. Thus, there are a total of 2,900 seats in government medical and dental colleges.

In the private sector, 1,800 MBBS seats and 740 BDS seats are allocated. Therefore, the total number of seats in private medical and dental colleges is 5,480. This year 7,811 candidates from Sindh passed the MDCAT exam as compared to the last year's number of 8,000. Despite this, 584 seats were left vacant in private colleges of Sindh. This is due to the fact the fee of private medical colleges is beyond the reach of parents.

The Sindh government had protested against the imposition of high merit in MDCAT examination by the PMC and said that the passing percentage should be brought down to 50%. However, PMC again rejected the Sindh government's request.

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Due to the non-consideration of Sindh government's requests by the federation, the provincial health minister Dr Azra Pechuho announced the formation of the Sindh Medical Council. She said that the percentage of MDCAT examination should be reduced. However, this demand of Sindh government was rejected by PMC.

On December 2, the provincial cabinet approved the admission of candidates who scored 50% marks in the MDCAT examination after which the provincial health department of Sindh government issued a notification on December 7, directing Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana to start the process for admission in all government and private medical colleges in Sindh in light of the decision made in the provincial cabinet.

On the other hand, the PMC, on its website, has warned all medical and dental colleges across the country not to admit any candidate who scored less than 65% marks in the MDCAT examination. "If a medical college gives admission to any such candidate, the PMC will not register the student in the council and his admission will be considered illegal. Any medical or dental college that admits a student who has not passed the MDCAT will be subject to strict legal action. Accreditation of this medical or dental college will also be revoked," it read.

The announcement said that admissions would be given as per the criteria set by the PMC. The council added that a student who did not qualify for MDCAT would not be awarded MBBS or BDS degree in Pakistan. "This student will not even get a licence to practice medicine or dentistry in Pakistan."

It should be noted that the Sindh government has started drafting an act for the Sindh Medical Council on the lines of Sindh Higher Education. The draft will be sent for legal enactment after approval from the Sindh Assembly.

Meanwhile, provincial higher education chairman Dr. Asim Hussain told The Express Tribune that the establishment of the Sindh Medical and Dental Council has become necessary.

"The prime minister should immediately intervene regarding admissions in medical and dental colleges of the province as this matter is becoming very serious," he said, adding the future of thousands of children was at stake.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2021.