Islamabad, October 22, 2026: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has ordered a fresh inquiry into complaints regarding the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026. The Ministry of National Health Services has been directed to complete the investigation within one week and submit its findings to the committee.
During a meeting chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, officials of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) informed the committee that their initial inquiry had found no irregularities or anomalies in the examination. However, senators expressed dissatisfaction with the report and questioned how an investigation into such significant complaints could have been completed within a single day.
Committee members raised concerns about allegations of out-of-syllabus questions, possible discrepancies in the examination, and issues affecting the fairness and transparency of the admission test. They stressed that students must have confidence in the examination process, as MDCAT results play a crucial role in admission to medical and dental colleges.
The committee also objected to the PMDC’s practice of collecting question booklets from candidates after the examination and not allowing them to retain copies. Members argued that students should be able to review the questions and verify their answers to understand their performance and raise concerns where necessary.
PMDC officials explained that the question booklets were collected to protect the question bank and prevent candidates appearing in future examinations from gaining an unfair advantage. The committee rejected this explanation and called for greater transparency, including making the recent MDCAT question paper publicly available within three days.
The committee further directed the PMDC to implement recommendations made by its sub-committee on MDCAT. Members also questioned a policy that had required students planning to pursue medical education abroad to take the MDCAT, which was subsequently withdrawn following the committee’s intervention.
Chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti warned that if the complaints were not addressed satisfactorily, the matter could be referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further investigation.
The fresh inquiry is expected to examine the complaints more thoroughly and help address concerns regarding merit, accountability, and transparency in Pakistan’s medical admissions system.
