Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing a session of the National Assembly. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/NA
ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination on Monday expressed deep concern over non-compliance by private medical and dental colleges with the fee structure approved by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and urged strict enforcement of regulations.
The meeting, chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, MP, discussed a wide range of public health and regulatory issues, including inflated tuition fees, fairness of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and irregularities in the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC).
The officials informed the committee that despite the prescribed fee limit of Rs 1,800,000 to Rs 2,500,000 per annum, several institutions continued to charge higher amounts.
The PMDC informed that 14 colleges had been issued show-cause notices for violations, and further investigations were underway.
Members demanded that details of these institutions, including notice dates and follow-up actions, be shared with the committee. The NHSR&C Minister assured that the matter was being looked into and an investigation was underway to check fee structures across all colleges.
The President welcomed the members and appreciated their continued engagement, while urging the resolution of long-pending issues, including the promotion of two PMDC employees who had been cleared by the FIA and the Ministry.
The committee recommended that the matter be resolved without further delay.
During the MDCAT discussion, members expressed concerns about the two-year validity of test scores and the lack of a relative grading system, arguing that the policy discouraged high-achieving students from reapplying.
The president noted that thousands of students had scored above 95 percent, but the limited number of places put many at a disadvantage. The committee advised reviewing the policy to ensure fairness and equal opportunities.
The minister explained that more than 6,000 standardized questions had been developed from a common curriculum, divided into series for the sake of transparency, and assured further consultations with the provinces and the National Academic Council.
Committee members also emphasized that the academic future of students must be protected in the event of disenrollment from the university and that the PMDC should adopt proactive regulation rather than post-complaint action.
The committee also considered the starred issues Nos. 20, 23 and 49, as well as the “Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024”, moved by Syed Rafiullah, MP.
Members expressed concern over the ministry’s delayed and inadequate responses regarding irregular appointments and administrative shortcomings. Despite the committee’s earlier directives, no substantial corrective action has been taken, it was noted.
