The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced a one-time reduction in merit requirements for MBBS and BDS admissions in private medical and dental colleges, following a significant drop in student enrolments.
According to the official notification, the minimum merit for MBBS programmes has been reduced from 55% to 52%, while for BDS programmes it has been lowered from 50% to 47%. The council clarified that this relaxation is temporary and will only apply to seats that remain vacant after the completion of regular admission rounds.
The decision comes as several private medical institutions, particularly in major cities like Lahore, struggled to fill their allocated seats. Experts and officials have linked the decline in admissions to rising tuition fees, which have made medical education increasingly unaffordable for many students.
Analysts suggest that the issue goes beyond merit and reflects a broader affordability crisis. The high cost of private medical education, often amounting to millions of rupees annually, has discouraged even academically eligible candidates from applying.
A PMDC official stated that the move is not intended to lower academic standards permanently but rather to ensure that available seats are utilized while maintaining a reasonable level of merit. The council emphasized that all admissions must continue to follow transparent procedures and strict merit-based criteria.
The regulator has also advised private colleges to review and potentially reduce their fee structures to improve accessibility. Additionally, the entire admission process will remain under close monitoring to prevent any misuse of the relaxation.
The development has sparked mixed reactions among students and parents. While some see it as an opportunity for those who narrowly missed previous merit thresholds, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on the quality of future healthcare professionals.
Overall, the decision highlights ongoing challenges in Pakistan’s education sector, particularly the growing gap between academic opportunities and financial accessibility.
