A Senate subcommittee on Tuesday expressed concern over the growing number of complaints related to the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), including issues surrounding the exam’s conduct and scheduling. The subcommittee, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, also criticized the repeated absence of the federal health minister, noting that the meeting had already been rescheduled three times because of him. However, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal later joined the session.

The subcommittee, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, also criticized the repeated absence of the federal health minister, noting that the meeting had already been rescheduled three times because of him. However, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal later joined the session.

During the briefing, PMDC officials informed the committee that this year’s MDCAT would be held in 36 cities, including 35 across Pakistan and one in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with around 135,000 candidates expected to appear.

Senator Rahman said the committee had received around 1,000 complaints, highlighting the difficulties faced by students and their families.

She also questioned the role of private academies charging high fees for MDCAT preparation and raised concerns that FSc students were being required to study A-Level material, while A-Level students were reportedly expected to prepare from FSc content.

PMDC officials responded that the MDCAT is conducted on a single day each year and said the previous year’s test had received very few complaints.

Defending the current system, Mustafa Kamal acknowledged that there was always room for improvement but urged students with concerns to present them directly to the PMDC.

Addressing the issue of expensive coaching academies, the minister alleged that a “mafia” of academies was creating unnecessary panic and maintained that, in his view, the existing system was functioning effectively.

The committee also discussed concerns over the timing of the MDCAT and board examinations. Responding to questions raised by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, PMDC officials said the final FSc and A-Level examinations concluded on July 20, leaving a three-week gap before the MDCAT.

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