Medical colleges refusing admissions at 50% to face action

Provincial Health And Population Minister Dr Azra Pechuho and Minister of University and Boards Muhammad Ismail Rahoo said in a joint meeting that the Sindh government would take action against the institutions which did not recognise the decisions taken regarding Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT).

They said Jinnah Medical University has been given the authority to create admissions portal and other arrangements for private medical and dental institutions.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Secretary for Health Qasim Siraj Soomro, Health Secretary Zulfiqar Shah and heads of private medical universities and colleges in Sindh.

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Dr Pechuho said that complaints were being received from our students. Private medical colleges did not give admissions on 50% marks. The Sindh Health Minister said that all private medical colleges are bound to abide by the decisions. The Parliamentary Health Minister said that the results of the PMC test procedure have been recognized with a lot of objections and reservations. The PMC Bill does not state in writing that students with at least 65% marks are required for admission. She said that we have decided to form Sindh Medical and Dental Council. If the hegemony of the PMC is not stopped, we will conduct MDCAT admissions tests on our own, she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2022.