MDCAT Pass Becomes Key Requirement for Studying Medicine Abroad

Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has introduced major reforms for students planning to pursue medical and dental education abroad, making registration with the council mandatory before leaving the country. According to the latest decision, no student will be allowed to study medicine overseas without first passing the MDCAT examination, strengthening merit-based entry into the medical field. Officials stated that the move aims to ensure quality control and align Pakistani medical education standards with international benchmarks. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is personally overseeing the reform process, focusing on transparency, strict inspections of institutions, and zero tolerance for negligence or violations in medical and dental colleges. Under the new policy, foreign medical universities must be included in the PMDC-approved list and hold WFME recognition for degree validity in Pakistan. Graduates from abroad will also be required to pass the National Registration Examination before practicing locally. Additionally, medical programs must include at least 6,200 teaching hours with 80 percent attendance, while students going to non-English speaking countries must learn the local language beforehand. They are also required to submit residence and contact details before departure.