ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination met today at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chisti. The session was attended by several senators and senior officials, focusing on issues within the country’s medical education system.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee revisited its previous meeting’s compliance report, particularly addressing concerns about the proliferation of dental colleges and the upcoming changes to the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT). The Minister of State announced that from next year, only candidates who have appeared for the MDCAT will be eligible for registration, a move intended to streamline the process.
Senator Chisti advocated for a uniform, IT-based MDCAT system nationwide to prevent malpractice associated with paper leaks. The Minister of State noted that this would necessitate a standardized curriculum across provinces, sparking a debate about educational principles and the rising fees in medical colleges. Senator Irfan ul Haq Siddiqui called for an examination of the fee structure, urging the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to intervene. The committee agreed on the need to address fee discrepancies affecting economically disadvantaged students.
The meeting also covered Senator Mohsin Aziz’s “Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” which addresses price variations in diagnostic centers. Aziz emphasized the importance of implementing the Bill to protect patients from inflated charges. The Minister of State proposed holding the Bill until a new pricing framework is developed.
Additionally, Senator Kamran Murtaza’s “Pakistan Psychological Council Bill, 2025” was discussed, with an emphasis on regulating psychological practices as part of a broader government initiative to merge and consolidate various councils for increased efficiency.
The session concluded with former Deputy Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi raising concerns about reduced medical seats in FATA, initially allocated at 333 but reportedly reduced to 194. These changes have been sent to the Supreme Court for resolution. The Minister of State clarified that previous communications had been misinterpreted and suggested reallocating seats offered by provincial medical colleges, urging the PMDC to withdraw the contentious letter.