The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council has issued detailed guidance on the registration of postgraduate medical and dental qualifications, including MS, MD, MDS, M.Phil, Ph.D, FCPS, MCPS and diploma programmes awarded by Pakistani universities and the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, clarifying how PMDC registration will be applied going forward.
Following an extensive review of cases involving qualifications obtained from training sites not recognised under Section 25 of the PM&DC Act, 2022 and consideration of limited amnesty measures, the Postgraduate Medical Education Committee resolved on 7 January 2026 that postgraduate qualifications from unrecognised training sites that do not fall within the amnesty deadline cannot be registered. The Secretariat has been directed to process all pending PMDC registration applications strictly in accordance with the law and Council decisions.
The Council decided to harmonise the registration process for postgraduate awards from universities and CPSP by using the date of induction or enrolment in the training programme in relation to the promulgation of the PM&DC Act, 2022 as the key determining factor. Candidates who were enrolled before the enforcement of the Act may be considered under the amnesty provisions subject to fulfilment of prescribed conditions.
Reiterating its earlier ruling of 4 June 2023, the Council emphasised that the PM&DC Act, 2022 does not have retrospective effect. Candidates enrolled or qualified before 16 January 2023 will be considered under the prior legal framework, while those enrolled after that date must ensure their qualification, the degree-awarding institution and the training site are recognised by PM&DC under Section 25.
Referencing the decision of 19 September 2023, the Council underlined that formal recognition of both the postgraduate qualification and the training institute is mandatory and that inspection and recognition of training sites are statutory prerequisites. Applications submitted under the repealed PMC Act, 2020 cannot be processed under the current framework and fresh applications must be filed in compliance with the PM&DC Act, 2022. A limited one-time amnesty had previously been granted for certain qualifications from recognised institutes within specified deadlines.
Subsequent decisions on 13 June 2024 and 6 August 2024 clarified that the one-time amnesty for MD, MS, MDS, M.Phil, Ph.D and diploma qualifications applies only to candidates whose final examinations were held on or before 31 December 2023, with the examination date shown on the degree serving as the criterion for eligibility.
The Council also approved registration of postgraduate basic sciences qualifications awarded by universities recognised by the Higher Education Commission, provided admission took place on or before 27 September 2022. These measures aim to align practice across institutions while protecting standards for specialists nationwide.
PM&DC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj said the Council will ensure equal treatment for all specialists in accordance with the law and that the steps are intended to safeguard merit, maintain uniform standards and uphold the quality and integrity of medical education and specialist training in Pakistan. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to transparent governance, regulatory compliance and continued strengthening of postgraduate medical education.
