Senate panel orders action on 35 qualified medical colleges' fees, vacant seats and monitoring.

A Senate committee led by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani directed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to take immediate measures to address vacant seats in medical colleges, examine fee disparities and strengthen monitoring of medical education institutions. The committee also reviewed PMDC’s preparation for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026, which will be held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, to ensure a transparent, secure and well‑organised process. Out of 61 medical colleges considered, 35 met the prescribed criteria. The committee asked PMDC to provide justification for the fee structures of these 35 qualified institutions and to submit audited financial statements. In addition, PMDC was asked to disclose the status of non‑qualified institutions that charge higher fees and display them on websites; PMDC confirmed that notices had been issued and monitoring was underway, and it was requested to provide details of those notices. The committee discussed the issue of vacant seats, noting that it is a widespread concern not solely linked to fee levels or MDCAT eligibility. PMDC reported that additional seats had been added in Punjab, former FATA and Balochistan following inspections. The committee also examined the possibility of increasing public‑sector seats in Sindh, noting that such measures would require additional infrastructure and registration capacity. A separate meeting with Sindh government representatives was scheduled to explore the matter further. PMDC was instructed to investigate private colleges with vacant seats and submit a report identifying the reasons for the vacancies. The committee expressed concern over a delayed previous report and required the new report within one month. The Standing Committee emphasized that any increase in fees must be supported by clear criteria, credible evidence, and audited financial information. It also stressed the need to investigate vacant seats thoroughly before making further policy decisions.