PMDC Revises Academic Criteria and Caps MBBS/BDS Fees in Major Medical Education Reform

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced a sweeping set of changes to medical education policies aimed at making medical and dental studies more accessible. These changes include lowering the minimum passing marks and attendance requirement, as well as capping tuition fees for private medical institutions.

Major Revisions in Academic Regulations

In a move to relieve academic pressure and address concerns from students, PMDC has officially reduced:

Key Highlights of Academic Policy Changes:

• These new academic regulations apply to students of all academic years in both medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) colleges.
• The previous 70% and 90% criteria were only introduced a few weeks prior, but rapid feedback from stakeholders prompted a review.
• The changes aim to reduce student stress while maintaining academic standards.

Government Imposes Fee Cap for MBBS/BDS Programs

In addition to academic reforms, the Government of Pakistan has implemented a fee cap on tuition for MBBS and BDS programs at private institutions. This is part of a broader initiative by the Medical Education Reforms Committee, spearheaded by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Tuition Fee Structure for Private Medical Colleges

Key Dates of Deliberation:

• June 4, 2022
• December 10, 2023
• February 23, 2024
• February 27, 2025 – Final review by subcommittee headed by Prof. Dr. Masood Gondal

Institutions Must Justify Higher Fee Demands

While Rs 1.8 million is the standard cap, private institutions that wish to charge more (up to Rs 2.5 million annually) must follow strict regulations:

Requirements for Higher Tuition Requests:

• Submit detailed financial statements
• Provide educational quality indicators
• Share comparative service data
• Justify the higher costs with transparency and documentation

Any arbitrary or unexplained increase in fees will be strictly prohibited to protect students from financial exploitation.

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Objective: Making Medical Education More Equitable

This government-led initiative addresses growing concerns about the affordability of medical education, especially for middle- and lower-income families.

Expected Benefits:

• Increased access to medical education across socio-economic groups
• Lower dropout rates due to reduced academic and financial burden
• Fairer competition among private institutions based on merit, not money

Stakeholder Involvement & Government Assurance

The decisions reflect a collaborative process involving:

• PMDC
• Private institutions
• Pakistan Association of Medical Institutions (PAMI)
• Government ministries and finance experts

The government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and credited the Deputy Prime Minister’s leadership for driving these much-needed changes.

Summary of Key Changes

The latest reforms mark a transformative shift in Pakistan’s medical education landscape. By easing academic burdens and controlling spiraling tuition fees, these decisions pave the way for a more inclusive and affordable medical education system. These are proactive, student-first policies that respond directly to long-standing concerns from students, parents, and educators alike.

As the new academic year progresses, students can expect greater clarity, fairness, and opportunities, ensuring that merit and motivation—not money—determine their future in medicine.