Provinces liable for any MDCAT paper leaks: Mustafa Kamal

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal has asked provincial authorities and universities to ensure a free, fair, and transparent Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) on October 26.

Addressing a press conference at the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) head office, the minister said the Council has developed a uniform national syllabus and an item bank containing over 6,000 standardized questions for the MDCAT.

He said the syllabus had been prepared in consultation with vice-chancellors and other stakeholders, adding that universities had compiled their question papers from the national item bank after thorough review and satisfaction.

“If the MDCAT paper is leaked, provinces will be held responsible,” the minister warned, urging the media to help raise public awareness about the upcoming exam.

Mustafa Kamal appreciated PM&DC President Dr Rizwan Taj and his team for creating what he called an “excellent and transparent” system for the test.

The MDCAT 2025 will be conducted nationwide through designated public-sector universities in each province and region. All matters relating to the organization, management, conduct, and results of the examination will be handled by these universities in line with the standards and framework issued by the Council.

The PM&DC emphasized that any failure to ensure smooth and transparent conduct — including paper leaks, deviations from the syllabus, or breaches of transparency — would make the responsible university fully accountable.

The minister said 50 per cent of the allocated funds had already been released to universities to ensure smooth arrangements, while the remaining amount would be withheld in case of any irregularity or misconduct.

He said the measure was part of a strategy to ensure transparency, regional facilitation, and efficient management of the MDCAT process nationwide. Each university would act as the exam authority within its jurisdiction, adhering strictly to PM&DC’s prescribed rules, syllabus, and security protocols.

According to the PM&DC, the MDCAT score will carry at least 50 per cent weightage for admission to public and private medical colleges across the country and will remain valid for three years. Universities are required to conduct pre-hoc and post-hoc analyses to ensure no incorrect or out-of-syllabus questions appear in the paper.

All participating universities have been instructed to make comprehensive arrangements, including proper seating, ventilation, heating or cooling systems, and clean drinking water at exam centres. Security measures will include jammers, walk-through gates, and adequate personnel, while staff will be appointed for invigilation and administration duties.

Universities have also been asked to set up parent waiting areas, student verification counters, and other facilities to ensure a smooth and secure examination process.

The PM&DC reiterated that while universities will manage operational and logistical aspects, the Council retains exclusive authority over candidate registration, policy oversight, and validation of results to ensure merit-based transparency. A total of 140,129 candidates have registered for the MDCAT 2025, competing for 22,000 MBBS and BDS seats in public and private colleges across the country. The test will be held at 32 venues nationwide, including one international centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The test was originally scheduled for October 5, 2025, but has now been rescheduled to October 26, 2025 (Sunday) to facilitate students in flood-affected areas.