Sindh demand to lower MDCAT merit rejected by PMC

Dr. Azra Pechuho, the Sindh Health Minister, has requested that the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) lower the minimum passing score for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) from 65 to 50 for medical students in Sindh.

The provincial minister wrote to the commission saying the measure is vital for admissions to public and private medical and dentistry colleges in Sindh; otherwise, most seats will be unfilled this year.

PMC had earlier stated that provinces would not be permitted to undercut the standard of merit in order to fill these seats at private medical institutions with "wealthy but deserving individuals." It implies that provincial governments assist students who meet the passing criteria but cannot afford to attend school.

Dr. Pechuho, on the other hand, stated in a recent letter to PMC President Dr. Arshad Taqi on Wednesday that the MDCAT was based on the federal curriculum and was held on several days for different candidates.

"Because each province has its own board and curriculum, pupils from Sindh have been put at a disadvantage, obviously violating the right to equal opportunity."

She claimed that the closing percentage for the MDCAT last year was 60, and that many candidates from Sindh were unable to achieve the requirements.

"As a result, 492 places in Sindh medical and dentistry colleges remain empty," the minister said, adding that the bare minimum passing threshold for this year has been raised from 60% to 65%.