ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has reportedly issued a directive to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to suspend the registration of new medical and dental colleges, sources revealed on Tuesday. This decision comes as part of broader efforts to address critical shortages in qualified faculty across the nation’s medical education institutions.
Insiders confirmed that the PMDC has greenlit the ban, stipulating that no new applications for college registrations will be accepted after January 5. Meanwhile, 13 applications submitted before the cutoff are under consideration and may still be processed, depending on their compliance with existing standards. Pakistan Government Enforces
The move stems from growing concerns over the lack of adequate teaching staff, with the country currently supporting 187 medical and dental colleges—121 private and 66 public. Authorities argue that expanding the number of institutions without addressing faculty shortages risks compromising the quality of medical education.
In a parallel development, the PMDC last month imposed a temporary ban on fee collection by private medical and dental colleges, acting on recommendations from the Senate Health Sub-Committee. The suspension will remain in place until the Medical Education Committee, led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, delivers its report. Sources disclosed that private colleges have collected over Rs15 million in fees over the past five years, raising questions about financial accountability.
As part of this overhaul, the PMDC is also set to launch inspections of existing medical and dental colleges to ensure adherence to educational standards. The government’s actions underscore its commitment to reforming the sector, with further updates expected following the committee’s findings.
