Pakistan Introduces Major Reforms For Overseas Medical Students

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – The government on Tuesday announced sweeping reforms in Pakistan’s medical education sector, making registration with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council mandatory for students planning to pursue medical or dental studies abroad.

The decisions were finalised during a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to review the approval process for medical, dental and alternative medicine institutions. The meeting focused on strengthening legal requirements and ensuring educational quality meets international standards.

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The committee decided that Pakistani students would only be allowed to study medicine abroad after successfully passing the MDCAT examination. It also ruled that only foreign medical universities recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education and included in the PMDC-approved list would be accepted.

Under the new policy, foreign medical graduates must clear the national registration examination before practising in Pakistan. The committee further made it compulsory for students to complete at least 6,200 teaching hours and maintain 80 percent attendance during their studies.

Students heading to countries where English is not the primary language were also advised to learn the local language before beginning their education.

The committee directed authorities to conduct transparent and merit-based inspections of medical and dental colleges while enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy against negligence and irregularities during inspections.

Officials also advised students to complete their PMDC registration before leaving Pakistan, warning that failure to do so could lead to future complications regarding degree recognition and professional registration.

The meeting in Islamabad was attended by federal ministers for health and law, senior government officials, and representatives from relevant institutions. The PMDC reaffirmed its commitment to aligning Pakistan’s medical education system with global standards.