The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) convened in Islamabad to address key issues affecting the medical and dental education sectors. Chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, the committee focused on pending matters related to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026, and the concerns of medical students facing administrative and academic hurdles.
Committee members voiced serious concerns over the absence of the Vice Chancellor of Isra University, highlighting the uncertainty faced by numerous medical students. While officials from PMDC and the Ministry of National Health Services stated that the issue involving Isra University students had been resolved, the committee stressed the need to expedite the facilitation of house jobs for the affected students—a process delayed by procedural complications. The PMDC assured the committee of full support in helping these students complete their training.
Addressing the grievances of foreign medical students returning from Kyrgyzstan, the committee instructed the PMDC to immediately issue a formal circular and convene a council meeting. It directed that provisional licenses be granted to the students and that they be allowed to register for the National Registration Examination (NRE) without unnecessary delay. The committee set a three-day deadline for the resolution, warning the PMDC of strict action if directives were not followed.
During the meeting, members also discussed the status of PMDC officers who have not been promoted despite being cleared by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) inquiries. The PMDC registrar assured the committee that the promotion process would advance promptly and fairly, including personal hearings for concerned officers.
The committee expressed deep concern over the lack of implementation of court orders regarding the removal of the President of the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PN&MC), calling it a serious violation and urged the Ministry to take immediate corrective action.
In discussions on the upcoming MDCAT 2025-26, members explored the distribution of examination weightage between Matriculation, Intermediate, and MDCAT scores. Some members criticized manipulation in board exams and called for an increased emphasis on MDCAT scores to bolster transparency. Plans were made to hold future consultations with provincial health departments, education boards, and vice chancellors to reform the exam process. The committee also considered legislative changes to reduce the validity period of MDCAT results from three years to one or two.
The meeting concluded with prayers for the victims of recent floods in Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The committee urged the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and the health ministry to ensure timely delivery of emergency medical supplies and essential medicines to the flood-affected regions.
The session was attended by several members of the National Assembly and senior officials from the health ministry and its departments.
