As per a proposal from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Sukkur to the Sindh Health Department, the Medical & Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) retakes are scheduled to take place on December 1.
Preparations for the test are already in progress, with experts working to create a question database. The Sindh Health Department has submitted a report to the Sindh High Court, detailing the agreement with IBA Sukkur and the extension granted for conducting the test.
The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) has appointed its Controller of Examinations, Imdad Khushak, as the focal point for the MDCAT. The Sindh Health Department has also assigned Deputy Health Secretary, Zohaib Hasan Sheikh, to oversee the process.
In addition, IBA Sukkur has requested that the number of options in the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) be reduced from five to four. This request aligns with IBA Sukkur’s usual format, as in past tests for other departments, they have used four options. In contrast, the MDCAT conducted by Dow University of Health Sciences and in other provinces typically uses five options for each question. The decision on the number of options for the MCQs will be part of the final test format.
It should be noted that the test was held earlier this year, however, due to a paper leak allegation it was challenged in Sindh High Court (SHC). The court canceled the Test are order to retake.
The test was organized by Dow University of Health Sciences, which faced serious allegations of paper leaks. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted an inquiry that revealed the test paper had indeed been leaked.
The test slip containing crucial exam details was leaked from a doctor’s phone number. The leaked paper was shared in multiple WhatsApp groups and sent to individual contacts. Multiple individuals, including another doctor, were potentially involved.
Over 38,000 students took the exam across multiple locations in Sindh. However, the event was marred by numerous complaints. Parents and students reported mismanagement at exam centers. There were last-minute directives, such as requiring female students to remove jewelry before entering exam centers, causing distress
Some candidates allegedly scored unusually high marks, raising suspicions of malpractice. The controversy escalated to the point where the Sindh High Court (SHC) had to intervene. The SHC halted the announcement of MDCAT results and ordered an investigation. On October 26, the court nullified the results and ordered a retest within four weeks.
