ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Sunday conducted the National Registration Examination (NRE-I) in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.

As many as 4991 foreign graduates appeared in the exam.

NRE is a mandatory licensing exam designed to evaluate the competency of foreign-qualified MBBS and BDS graduates who seek full registration asgeneralpractitioners in Pakistan.

A total of 5,036 graduates nationwide were registered for the NRE-I exam in which 4,995 were MBBS graduates and 41 BDS graduates.

In Karachi, 390 MBBS, one BDS graduates appeared in the test. In Islamabad 1,583 MBBS, 19 BDS, in Peshawar 442 MBBS, three BDS and in Lahore 2,538 MBBS and 15 BDS graduates appeared simultaneously.The NRE examination consists of two parts NRE I and NRE II. The candidates must pass both components separately with a minimum score of 60pc.

PMDC President Prof Rizwan Taj said the examination was conducted under the supervision of National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) in a transparent and disciplined manner.

He advised aspiring medical students to only enroll in recognised international institutions listed by the PMDC so that upon their return they can pass the licensing exam and get absorbed in the national health system and serve their country.

`PMDC is committed to ensure excellence in medical and dental education while pursuing uniform minimum standards. The NRE II examination schedule will be communicated on the PMDC official website as soon as the NRE I exam result is announced,` he said.