PMDC Sends Show-Cause Notices to 45 Private Medical Colleges Over Excessive Fees

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has issued show-cause notices to 45 private medical colleges accused of charging tuition and other fees above the limits officially approved for them, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health was informed on Wednesday. Some institutions are reportedly demanding as much as Rs600,000 more than the permitted amount from students, lawmakers were told.

The disclosure was made by committee member Dr Shazia Soomro during a meeting chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar. In response, the committee asked for inspection reports covering private medical colleges for the last two years, seeking a clearer picture of how fee regulations are being enforced across the country. The PMDC president confirmed to the panel that notices had already been served on the institutions concerned.

The committee also raised concern over delays in implementing a decision that would extend the validity of Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) results to three years. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told members that his ministry had approved the proposal and referred the matter to the federal cabinet for final approval. The current shorter validity period has been a recurring source of difficulty for candidates who must retake the test to remain eligible for admission.

Separately, the meeting saw a sharp exchange between the health minister and Dr Soomro over the inquiry report into the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Dr Soomro questioned why the findings of the inquiry had not been fully acted upon and demanded an audit report detailing how Rs22 billion provided to the hospital over the past three years had been used.

Mustafa Kamal responded that the Ministry of Health had already implemented the recommendations of its own inquiry, while further investigations had been assigned to the Ministry of Interior. The committee's proceedings highlight growing scrutiny of fee practices in private medical education and of financial oversight at major public hospitals, both issues that directly affect students, patients and public spending.