In a significant policy shift, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has relaxed the admission criteria for MBBS and BDS programs, allowing students with second division grades to pursue medical education.
The move is aimed at addressing the issue of vacant seats in private medical and dental colleges across the country.
Under the revised criteria, students with a minimum of 50% marks can now apply for MBBS, while those with 45% marks are eligible for BDS programs.
This marks the first time the PMDC has officially lowered entry requirements for private sector institutions, enabling a broader segment of students to pursue medical education.
The decision comes amid concerns over increasing numbers of unfilled seats in private colleges, particularly in less urbanized areas, prompting regulatory authorities to adopt more flexible measures.
Despite the relaxed entry requirements, the PMDC has simultaneously tightened academic regulations within medical institutions to ensure educational quality is maintained.
In contrast, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Punjab recently implemented even stricter standards, requiring 70% passing marks and 90% attendance. UHS has also launched a biometric attendance tracking system, mandating affiliated colleges to submit monthly records to improve transparency and accountability.
According to PMDC, the goal is to balance accessibility with academic excellence, ensuring that while more students can enter the field of medicine, rigorous standards are upheld to maintain professional competence and public trust in healthcare.
