LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) Academic Council and Board of Studies in Medicine approved a new assessment policy for the first-year MBBS in a joint meeting held here on Saturday.

The policy has been framed in accordance with the new modular and integrated medical curriculum introduced by the university in its affiliated medical colleges this year.

The meeting, presided over by UHA Vice-Chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore, was attended by the principals and senior faculty of the affiliated institutions. UHS Registrar Prof Nadia Naseem and Controller of Examinations Prof Saqib Mahmood were also present.

According to the new assessment pol-icy, the first professional MBBS exam will comprise four papers having a total of 1,000 marks -three papers based on the contents of the three blocks of the curriculum taught throughout the year, while the fourth of Islamiat and Pakistan Studies.

Both the theory paper and practical exam will carry 150 marks each. Each multiple-choice question will carry one mark, while the short essay question will carry five marks.

As per the new policy, major subjects in the MBBS first year include Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, with their clinical application, while the minor ones include Behavioral Sciences, Community Medicine, Public Health, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Clinical Foundation. Professionalism, ethics, information technology, research, leadership, and Holy Quran will also betaught in the first year.

Under the policy, the concerned medical college will send the internal assessment of each student to the university based on the results of the block examinations and class attendance. The pass marks in university professional exams will be 50 percent. In the block examination, the student will be required to secure a minimum of 50pc marks.

However, if the marks are less than 50pc in the block exam, the student will have to make up the shortfall in the next block exam.

Under the new curriculum and examination policy, there will be no more sendup exams in medical colleges.

Each practical exam will consist of 12 Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) and three Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) stations. There willbe three stations for the structured viva, each carrying 10 marks. The duration of the practical exam will be two and a half hours. For distinction, a candidate will have to secure a minimum of 85pc marks in aggregate, provided that he scores 80pc marks in the written examination.

Addressing the meeting participants, UHS VC said the university would soon issue a model paper for the guidance of students and faculty.

He said that internal and external examiners will be required to submit their marks separately to the university in the practicals to bring more transparency to the examinations.

Dr Rathore further said the examination system was being revamped and from now on no faculty member would be appointed as an examiner unless he or she completed mandatory training workshops organised by the university. He added that a new, robust examination monitoring system was also put in place to check any irregularities.

UHSMedicalEducation Director Dr Khalid Rahim briefed the participants on the new examination policy.

The Academic Council nominated two professors -Prof Dr Muhammad Shahzad and Prof Zahid Bashir -as the members of the Finance and Planning Committee.

The council also approved a panel consisting of four professors for the Affiliation Committee.

The panel includes Prof Dr Allah Rakha, Prof Asif Qureshi, Prof Sameer Anwar and Prof Mulazim Hussain Bukhari.she completed mandatory training workshops organised by the university. He added that a new, robust examination monitoring system was also put in place to check any irregularities.

UHSMedicalEducation Director Dr Khalid Rahim briefed the participants on the new examination policy.

The Academic Council nominated two professors -Prof Dr Muhammad Shahzad and Prof Zahid Bashir -as the members of the Finance and Planning Committee.

The council also approved a panel consisting of four professors for the Affiliation Committee.

The panel includes Prof Dr Allah Rakha, Prof Asif Qureshi, Prof Sameer Anwar and Prof Mulazim Hussain Bukhari.