ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has introduced a comprehensive set of regulations for Pakistani students seeking admission to foreign medical colleges, tightening academic and licensing requirements for future medical practitioners.
Under the revised policy, students planning to study medicine abroad must secure at least 60 percent marks in FSc (Pre-Medical) or an equivalent qualification. They must also obtain a minimum of 50 percent marks in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).
The council has further made it mandatory for candidates to achieve at least 50 percent marks in internationally recognized admission tests, including MCAT and UCAT, where required by the host institution.
According to the new regulations, Pakistani students will only be eligible if they enroll in foreign medical colleges recognized by the relevant authorities and included in approved institutional lists.
The PMDC has also stipulated that the medical programme must be a five-year allopathic medicine degree with a minimum of 6,200 instructional hours. Students will be required to maintain at least 80 percent attendance throughout their studies.
A major addition to the policy is the requirement for students to obtain an online registration certificate from the PMDC before securing admission to any foreign medical institution. Applicants must also provide study visa information and travel records as proof of overseas education.
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The regulations further require students to complete a language course relevant to the host country before beginning their medical studies abroad.
For graduates returning to Pakistan, passing the National Registration Examination (NRE) has been declared mandatory for registration and licensing. The PMDC clarified that only those who fulfill all prescribed conditions will be eligible to appear in the examination.
The council also warned that foreign medical graduates who fail to clear the NRE will not be granted a PMDC licence and, therefore, will not be permitted to practice medicine in Pakistan.
The new framework aims to improve the quality of medical education received abroad and ensure that foreign-qualified doctors meet national professional standards before entering the healthcare system.
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