LAHORE: In a major step toward reforming medical education, the Punjab government has approved a new admission policy for public and private medical colleges across the province.
The approval came during a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Maryam Nawaz, where several important reforms were finalized to improve transparency, accessibility, and governance in the healthcare education sector.
As per the new policy, the medical and dental college admission test (MDCAT) has been made a mandatory requirement for admission to public sector medical colleges. Children of overseas Pakistanis will be required to pay $10,000 as the MDCAT admission fee.
In a significant shift for private sector admissions, candidates on the provisional merit list of private medical colleges must deposit one-third of their tuition fee with the university of health sciences (UHS). After the publication of the final merit list, UHS will transfer the funds to the respective college, and students will pay the balance directly to their allotted institution.
The policy also includes a new joint framework for mandatory service following postgraduate training. Trainee doctors will be placed in relevant departments of private medical colleges for specialization, ensuring better training and bridging gaps in the healthcare system.
To further strengthen governance, the chief minister approved the creation of boards of management for various healthcare institutions across Punjab to improve decision-making and institutional efficiency.
