Pakistan medical education faces declining MDCAT applicants and proposed reforms

The number of candidates appearing for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) in Pakistan has declined significantly since 2022. Data shows that applicants dropped from 204,253 in 2022 to approximately 138,000 in 2026. The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has warned that this trend could lead to a future shortage of doctors, attributing the decline primarily to rising tuition fees at medical and dental colleges.

In response to these challenges, a subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Health has proposed major reforms to the admission system. Recommendations include holding the MDCAT twice a year to provide students with more opportunities and reducing the test's admission weightage from 50% to 30%. The committee also suggested allowing test results to remain valid for up to three years and establishing a formal review mechanism for disputed questions.

To ensure security and transparency for the upcoming 2026 examination, the Punjab government plans to utilize centralized camera surveillance through the Punjab Safe Cities Authority. The test is scheduled for September 20 across 15 cities in Punjab.