ISLAMABAD: While the passing mark for medical and dental students is 65 per cent, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has permitted students securing as low as 50pc and 45pc marks to get admission to medical and dental colleges, respectively.

The PMDC registrar stated that the decision was taken in light of a significant number of vacant seats in medical and dental colleges.

However, the step has raised eyebrows because PMDC was established to watch the interest of the masses instead of private medical and dental colleges.

According to documents available with Dawn, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, has informed PMDC that a number of seats had remained vacant in various private medical and dental col-leges due to the high merit threshold.

`To address this concern and to ensure that eligible and deserving candidates are not deprived of their right to higher education in medicine and dentistry, the Council vide decision dated 13th May 2025 has approved a one-time relaxation in the minimum eligibility criteria. Accordingly, private colleges are permitted to admit candidates with a minimum of 50pc marks for MBBS and 45pc marks for BDS, strictly to fill the remaining vacant seats,` document stated.

`This dispensation is granted solely for the 2024-25 academic session, in the interest of public good and to prevent the wastage of available seats. It is a one-time measure and shall not be treated as a precedent for any future admission cycle,` the document signed by the PMDC registrar stated.

Another document stated that the admitting universities must ensure admission in all colleges in their respective provinces/regions as per laid down criteria of the PMDC under section 17 (5) of PMDC Act 2022.

`It is further informed that it is the mandate of the admitting universities to make admissions of their provinces/ regions and admissions shall not be recognised unless carried out by the admit-ting university.

A faculty member, requesting not to be quoted, said that the decision will affect the quality of medical education across Pakistan as even nursing colleges don`t admit students with such a low percentage.

`Medical admissions are considered highly competitive across the globe and highly intelligent candidates are considered for seats of doctors. In the USA, all seats below the merit remainvacant and later filled by highly intelligent candidates from other countries because admitting a nincompoop/weak student will put the life of patients at risk,` he explained.

He said that it was strange that students having 45pc marks will be admitted in colleges and then they will have to get 65pc marks while studying in medical and dental colleges.

`A number of universities close their merit for BS (Bachelor of Science) at 85pc but in Pakistan now students having 45pc and 50pc marks will become doctors. I fear that now quakes will get their children admitted as their clinics are already being run and they are blackmailed by doctors as quacks use their licenses,` he said.

When asked what the PMDC should do, the faculty member said it shouldsuggest to colleges to reduce the fee so that competent students, who don`t get admission in public sector colleges, would get admissions or some student loan programme can be introduced.

`However, it is a criminal step to make a student, who does not qualify, a doctor and then allow him to play with the health of the masses,` he said.

PMDC Registrar Dr Shaista Faisal said the colleges had informed the council that a number of seats were vacant with them after which it was decided that the percentage of Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) be reduced to 50pc and 45pc for medical and dental colleges admissions.

She said earlier 55pc marks in MDCAT were required for MBBS and 50pc for BDS.

However, another faculty member said MDCAT was introduced because there were allegations that students were getting unnecessary and high marks from different educational boards.

`Earlier, 60pc marks in MDCAT were required to get admission but on the request of private medical colleges the percentage was reduced to 55pc and now it has been further reduced,` he added.