PMDC Clarifies MDCAT 2025 Fee Adjustment

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) addressed concerns on Saturday regarding the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 fee. The council refuted claims of an 80% increase, stating the actual adjustment is 12.5%.

According to a formal statement, the PMDC confirmed that the registration process for MDCAT 2025 is underway, with the examination scheduled for Sunday, October 5. The council addressed what it termed a ‘misunderstanding’ concerning the examination fee.

“The PMDC wishes to clarify that the MDCAT fee has seen only a modest and gradual increase over the years,” the statement noted. The exam fee, previously Rs8,000 in 2024, has been revised to Rs9,000 for 2025, marking an increase of Rs1,000.

The council further explained that universities, nominated by federal and provincial bodies, will administer the MDCAT, not the council itself. However, the PMDC has developed a standardized syllabus in partnership with relevant stakeholders, along with a question bank based on the agreed-upon curriculum from all provinces.

According to the PMDC, the fee adjustment was implemented at the request of the universities tasked with conducting the examination. This is to address the escalating operational costs, including expenses related to printing, enhanced security measures, logistical and administrative arrangements, compensation for invigilators and staff, and ensuring appropriate facilities at both national and international testing locations.

The council stated that despite significant inflation and increasing expenditures, it is dedicated to keeping the fee accessible while ensuring quality, maintaining transparency, supporting merit-based admissions, and providing equal opportunities for all applicants.

The MDCAT will be administered through the following universities: University of Health Sciences, Lahore; Sukkur IBA University; Khyber Medical University, Peshawar; Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta; and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, which will also cater to Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and PMDC’s international venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.