Sindh HM Writes To PMC Regarding MDCAT 2021

KARACHI: Dr Azra Pechuho, Minister of Health and Population Welfare of Sindh, wrote a letter to the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) regarding the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT).

She stated in the letter that there are many reservations about the test under the Pakistan Medical Commission and questions were asked from the Islamabad Board syllabus in the third party test.

She said it is unfair to take the same test in the medical test even though other provinces have different curricula. Due to the same test, inequality was rampant when it came to candidates in Sindh.

Last year, 492 medical seats were left vacant due to the PMC's requirement of 60 per cent passing marks. This year, 68,680 students from Sindh took the MDCAT test out of which only 7797 students have passed due to the 65 per cent minimum passing grade allotted by the PMC.

There are 5490 seats available in Sindh for medical education in both public and private institutions. Most of those seats are in private medical and dental institutions. Due to such a policy, Sindh will face a shortage of doctors in the coming years.

She informed that the health department has also consulted with the vice-chancellors of Sindh's public and private universities. The proposal of 50% passing marks for medical admission in Sindh should be approved.

The provincial delegation will also make suggestions regarding reservations on MDCAT in Sindh.