Those responsible for leaking MDCAT paper to pay the price, says minister

KARACHI: In a significant development, Caretaker Sindh Health Minister Saad Khalid Niaz has officially confirmed the findings of an investigation committee, which unequivocally established that the MD CAT (Medical & Dental College Admission Test) paper was indeed leaked.

Addressing the media, Minister Niaz disclosed that the leaked MD CAT paper had a direct impact on the candidates’ scores, preventing them from achieving higher or full marks. In response to this grave breach of examination integrity, an investigation committee was promptly assembled, and the blame for the paper leak was placed squarely on Jinnah Sindh Medical University.

Expressing his concerns, Minister Niaz went on to assert his belief that there should be no MD CAT exam under such compromised circumstances. The responsibility for overseeing the entrance test process has been handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Minister Niaz has made it clear that if swift and decisive action is not taken against those responsible, he is prepared to step down from his position.

Probe team recommends re-conducting MDCAT

He underscored the importance of taking strong measures against the culprits, emphasizing that action would be taken regardless of any hurdles, including the filing of an FIR.

Furthermore, Minister Niaz criticized the allocation of resources, stating, “There is no need for robotic surgery in a hospital that does not have basic facilities.” He stressed that their primary focus remains on providing fundamental healthcare amenities to the public.

In related news, the issue of appointing the executive director of the National Institute of Cardiology is set to be resolved soon, as a summary regarding this matter was sent six months ago.

Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, had acted swiftly in response to the MD CAT paper leak. He has ordered the cancellation of the Medical & Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2023 entry test results.

The Chief Minister had authorized the re-conduct of the MDCAT-2023 entry test paper, entrusting this responsibility to the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS).

As of now, no specific date has been announced for the re-conduction of the MD CAT exam.