PMDC to Halt Registration of New Medical and Dental Colleges

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has decided to suspend the registration of new medical and dental colleges in line with government directives, sources reveal.

Applications for new registrations will not be accepted, except for 13 submissions made before January 5, which remain under review.

The decision stems from a critical shortage of faculty members across medical institutions. Pakistan currently has 121 private and 66 public medical and dental colleges, placing considerable pressure on available teaching staff.

To address concerns in the sector, the PMDC had already imposed restrictions on private colleges, including a ban on fee collection. Last month, the Council issued notices to private institutions, instructing them to halt fee collection based on recommendations from the Senate Committee.

Financial Practices Under Scrutiny

Over the past five years, private medical colleges have reportedly charged fees exceeding Rs15 million. The Health Sub-Committee of the Senate had previously recommended suspending such collections, citing financial irregularities.

The moratorium on new registrations will remain in effect until the Medical Education Committee, led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, submits its findings. The committee is currently assessing standards and challenges in private medical education.