NA panel grills medical colleges over fees

Asks PMDC to enforce fee limits, revisit MDCAT policy

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Monday expressed serious concern over private medical and dental colleges' non-compliance with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council's (PMDC) approved fee structure and urged strict enforcement of regulations.

The meeting, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA, took up a wide range of public health and regulatory issues, including inflated medical college fees to the fairness of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and irregularities in the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC).

Officials informed the committee that despite the prescribed fee limit of Rs1,800,000 to Rs2,500,000 per annum, several institutions continued to charge higher amounts.

The PMDC apprised that 14 colleges had been issued show-cause notices for violations, with further inquiries underway.

Members demanded that details of these institutions, including notice dates and follow-up actions, must be shared with the committee. The minister for NHSR&C assured that the issue was under active review and that a survey was being conducted to verify fee structures across all colleges.

The chair welcomed members and appreciated their continued engagement, while urging resolution of long-pending matters, including the promotion of two PMDC employees who had been cleared by the FIA and the ministry.

 

The committee recommended that the matter be finalised without further delay.

During discussion on the MDCAT, members raised concerns over the two-year validity of test results and the absence of a relative marking system, arguing that the policy discouraged high-achieving students from reapplying.

The chair noted that thousands of students had secured above 95 per cent marks, but limited seats left many at a disadvantage. The committee advised revisiting the policy to ensure fairness and equal opportunity.

The minister explained that over 6,000 standardised questions had been developed from a common syllabus, divided into sets for transparency, and assured further consultations with provinces and the National Academic Board.

The committee members also stressed that students' academic futures must be safeguarded in case of college deregistration and that the PMDC should adopt proactive regulation rather than post-complaint action.

The committee also reviewed Starred Questions Nos. 20, 23 and 49, along with the "Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024", moved by Syed Rafiullah, MNA.

Members expressed concern over delayed and inadequate responses from the Ministry on irregular appointments and administrative lapses. Despite earlier committee directions, no substantial corrective measures had been taken, it was noted.