PMDC exams registration system goes digital

Online registration, real-time tracking, and automated processing to enhance efficiency

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has launched a fully digital registration and management system for all medical examinations, marking a major step towards automation and transparency in the country's medical regulatory framework.

The new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)-based digital system will automate registration, licensing, examination records, and administrative operations on a single platform. Applicants can now register online, track their applications in real time, and benefit from automated processing, which will minimize errors and delays that often occurred under the manual system.

Examinations such as the National Registration Examination (NRE), National Equivalence Board (NEB) assessments, and the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) have been fully digitized under this initiative. The move enables hundreds of thousands of candidates to complete all exam-related processes online from home, significantly reducing time, travel, and costs.

PMDC has also implemented a structured monthly and annual performance review system for its staff, including confidential reports and formal evaluations to guide promotions and upgrades. A performance-based reward mechanism is being introduced to recognize and encourage exceptional employees.

Describing the initiative as "a new era of transparency, efficiency, and institutional excellence," PMDC President Prof. Dr Rizwan Taj said the council has undergone a comprehensive organizational restructuring, with clearly defined job descriptions, streamlined reporting structures, and the filling of all key vacancies to ensure financial discipline and administrative efficiency.

"We have restructured the council to strengthen digital governance and institutional capacity," Dr Taj said. "This transformation ensures accountability, legal compliance, and improved service delivery across all PMDC operations." Dr Taj emphasized that the success of these reforms depends on strengthening human resources. To that end, the council has introduced capacity-building and professional development programs for employees, including expert-led workshops designed to enhance technical, managerial, and leadership skills.

The new ERP system integrates all operational functions - from registration and licensing to human resource management and public facilitation - ensuring data accuracy, efficiency, and transparency. To make services more accessible nationwide, PMDC has established regional facilitation centers in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Gilgit-Baltistan. These centers will handle licensing, registration, and public queries, ensuring equal access to services across Pakistan.