Record Number of Candidates to Sit for Pakistan’s Medical and Dental Admission Test

Over 167,000 Aspiring Healthcare Professionals to Compete for Limited Seats

PAKISTAN: 167,077 candidates are set to participate in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) on September 22, 2024. This comprehensive examination will determine eligibility for a total of 21,452 seats in medical and dental programmes across the country.

National and International Test Centres

The MDCAT will be conducted simultaneously at 30 venues throughout Pakistan, with additional international centres in Dubai and Riyadh. This widespread distribution of test centres highlights the exam’s importance and the efforts to accommodate candidates from various regions.

Universities Overseeing the Examination

Six prominent universities have been tasked with conducting the MDCAT in their respective regions. These include:

• University of Health Sciences, Lahore (Punjab)
• Dow University of Health Sciences and University of Karachi (Sindh)
• Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta (Balochistan)
• Khyber Medical University, Peshawar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
• Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad (Federal Capital and international venues)
• Karakoram International University (Gilgit-Baltistan)

Seat Distribution Across Provinces

The distribution of seats varies significantly across provinces, reflecting the diverse healthcare education landscape of Pakistan:

• Punjab leads with 9,605 MBBS and 1,874 BDS seats
• Sindh follows with 4,310 MBBS and 1,240 BDS seats
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa offers 2,635 MBBS and 669 BDS seats
• Balochistan has 635 MBBS and 54 BDS seats
• Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) provides 430 MBBS seats, with no dental colleges currently established

Legal Framework and Test Centres

The MDCAT will be conducted under the provisions of the PMDC Act, 2022, ensuring a standardised and fair process for all candidates. Test centres have been established in multiple cities within each province to facilitate easier access for candidates.

An official from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council stated, “This year’s MDCAT represents a crucial step in identifying the next generation of medical and dental professionals in Pakistan. The large number of candidates underscores the growing interest in healthcare careers and the competitive nature of these programmes.”

Challenges and Opportunities

With over 167,000 candidates vying for approximately 21,000 seats, the competition is expected to be intense. This disparity between applicants and available seats highlights the need for continued expansion and investment in medical and dental education infrastructure across Pakistan.

As the nation prepares for this significant educational event, all eyes will be on the outcomes and their potential impact on the future of healthcare in Pakistan.