KARACHI: Several private medical and dental colleges across Pakistan are charging tuition fees above the ceiling set by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), according to a review conducted by the Health Matters Investigative Team.
For the 2025–26 academic session, PMDC has fixed the tuition fee cap at Rs 1.89 million per year, inclusive of all charges, which comes to Rs 9.45 million for the five-year MBBS program. However, fee structures officially published on college websites show that a number of institutions are listing annual fees exceeding this limit.
In Sindh, Isra Medical University lists its MBBS fee at Rs 2.475 million per year, amounting to approximately Rs 12.375 million over five years.
In Punjab, Niazi Medical and Dental College, Sargodha shows an annual MBBS fee of Rs 2.4 million, totaling Rs 12 million for the five-year program.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Begum Dental College and Kabir Medical College, both based in Peshawar, list annual fees of Rs 2.2 million each, which comes to Rs 11 million over five years. Altamash Dental College lists an annual fee of Rs 1.9 million, amounting to Rs 9.5 million for the full course.
In Islamabad, Al-Nafees Medical College lists an annual MBBS fee of Rs 2.475 million. HBS Medical and Dental College lists tuition at Rs 2.375 million, along with an admission fee of Rs 50,000, bringing the annual cost to Rs 2.425 million, or approximately Rs 12.125 million over five years. Rawal Institute of Health Sciences lists an annual fee of Rs 2.55 million, totaling Rs 12.75 million, while Islamabad Medical and Dental College shows an annual fee of Rs 2.392 million, amounting to Rs 11.96 million for the complete program.
The review also found that several colleges list additional mandatory charges under different heads, including admission, hostels, laboratory, library, and development fees, increasing the overall cost despite PMDC’s direction that the approved annual fee is inclusive of all charges.
A PMDC spokesperson, responding to the findings, said that affected students or parents can file complaints with PMDC along with documentary proof, after which the council takes action.
The spokesperson added that colleges generally do not charge excess amounts openly, and therefore complaints supported by evidence are required. The spokesperson further stated that students and parents should avoid paying fees beyond the approved structure.
The findings point to a gap between PMDC regulations and the fee structures publicly listed by several private medical and dental colleges, raising questions about compliance and monitoring.
