The Punjab government has approved new admission rules for medical and dental colleges across the province. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz chaired the meeting that finalized the policy, making MDCAT mandatory for all applicants.
For overseas Pakistanis, the MDCAT fee has been fixed at $10,000. The cabinet also revised the private college admission process, requiring students to deposit one-third of tuition fees with the University of Health Sciences (UHS). The amount will later be transferred to institutions after the final merit list.
To address the shortage of specialists, trainee doctors from private hospitals will pursue specialization at private colleges. The government also decided to establish medical blocks within existing universities instead of new colleges and expedite work on Nawaz Sharif Medical City.
CM Maryam Nawaz expressed satisfaction over the first successful angioplasty at Sahiwal Cardiac Centre and directed Mayo Hospital to improve transparency and patient care facilities.
