1.      Why PMC is dissolved? 


On Wednesday the national assembly passed the PM&DC Act 2022, aiming to make it a democratic, independent, and powerful body for producing doctors to serve the country.


The bill moved by Dr. Mahreen Razak Bhutto and Syed Agha Rafiullah was approved with a majority vote.


As per the statement of objects and reasons, The PMC Act, 2020 is only with lines to produce doctors for overseas countries. There’s no say in matters of public sector medical and dental colleges and medical universities after the enactment of the PMC Act, 2020 nor have enough power to audit the conduct of CPSP and postgraduate training in universities. The PMC can be seen as a perfect example of one man. The PMC Act, 2020 is not well thought out and will not be acceptable. It is lime to restore PMDC with reforms to make it a democratic, independent, and powerful body that can produce professional doctors who can work for the country.


Click here to see the statement of Objects and reasons | PMDC Act 2022


2. How PMDC is going to deal with the MDCAT 2022?


According to the PMDC Act 2022:

Section 17 of the PMDC Act 2022 states that;

  1. Each province, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory as per the policy and standards approved by the Provincial Governments and Federal Government respectively shall conduct on the dates approved by the Council, a single admission test based on the Intermediate or equivalent syllabus for all students seeking admission in undergraduate programs both in public and private medical and dental colleges and universities.
  2. No student shall be awarded a medical or dental degree in Pakistan who has not passed the MDCAT prior to obtaining admission to a medical or dental college in Pakistan.
  3. Provided the mandatory requirement of MDCAT shall not apply to students seeking admission on a special program seat predefined exclusively for foreign students and on the seats reserved for overseas Pakistanis.
  4. The admission to medical and dental programs conducted by public and private colleges and universities shall be regulated as per the policy and standards of the Federal Government through Minister-in-charge, Provincial Government, and Gilgit- Baltistan strictly on merit. However, private colleges may take any additional entrance test subject to any condition imposed by the relevant university to which such college is affiliated:
  5. The marks obtained by a student in MDCAT conducted by the province shall constitute a minimum of fifty percent of the weightage for admission in the public and private colleges.
  6. The MDCAT result of one province shall be valid for the entire country and shall be valid for a period of three years. Each province, Gilgit Baltistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory shall give preference to the students having domicile of their respective province or territory as the case may be
  7. Admissions on vacant seats shall be decided by the respective provincial government and respective authority in the case of Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad Capital

            

What does it mean?

The PMDC Act 2022 has given the council (PMDC) powers;

  1. To conduct a single MDCAT test in all provinces based on the syllabus of FSc. After the commencement of the law, provinces will decide the date, aggregate, and syllabus of the MDCAT test.
  2. To make it mandatory to give MDCAT test for admissions in all medical and dental colleges in Pakistan.
  3. Admissions to private medical and dental universities will be regulated by the Federal, Provincial, and the Govt of Gilgit-Baltistan on merit. Private universities can conduct additional admission tests.
  4. It would be compulsory to constitute 50% marks of MDCAT while creating aggregates of admission in the public and public & private colleges.
  5. MDCAT of one province is valid for the entire country for 3 years.



3.     Will PMDC change the MDCAT 2022?


According to PMDC ACT 2022:

Section 51 (Repeals and Savings) of the PMDC Act 2022 states;

  1. The dissolved Pakistan Medical Commission as formed pursuant to the repealed Act stands dissolved upon the commencement of this Act
  2. All assets, rights moveable and immovable properties, records, cash, bank accounts, deposits, etc. of the dissolved Pakistan Medical Commission under the repealed Act shall stand transferred to the Council and shall be deemed to be the assets, rights, properties, records, cash, bank accounts, deposits, etc. of the Council


What does it mean?

According to the provisions of section 51 of the PMDC act, it is clear that only at the commencement of the act, PMDC will be empowered to conduct the operations in accordance with the law. Here commencement means when the PMDC act is approved by the senate and the president's office                                             



4.      Will PMC refund the registration fee? Should we register with PMC for the MDCAT 2022?


According to PMDC ACT 2022:

Section 51 (Repeals and Savings) of the PMDC Act 2022 states;

  1. All assets, liabilities, payables, and receivables of the dissolved Pakistan Medical Commission under the repealed Act shall be deemed to be the assets, liabilities, payables, and receivables of the Council.
  2. All registration, recognitions, etc., granted by the dissolved Pakistan Medical Commission under the repealed Act shall be deemed to be registrations, recognitions granted by the Council subject to not being in conflict with this Act and the provisions of this Act or the same being within the power of the Council to recognize and register pursuant to this Act.


What does it mean?

This means that registration secured with PMC will automatically be transferred to PMDC for the MDCAT 2022. Students can continue the process of registration for the MDCAT 2022.

                                                        


5.     Who will conduct the MDCAT 2022 and when?


This totally depends upon the commencement of the PMDC act. If the act is approved by the senate and the president's office before MDCAT 2022 PMDC will take over the charge of MDCAT 2022. Otherwise, PMC will conduct the MDCAT exam. The changes in dates of the MDCAT 2022 also depend upon the approval and commencement of the PMDC act.



6.     What should MDCAT aspirants do during this uncertain time?


From the start of 2022 PMC advised the students to use the books of their respective boards for preparation for MDCAT 2022. If MDCAT 2022 is conducted under the supervision of PMC it will be strictly focused on the books of intermediate (from the syllabus provided by PMC), whereas section 17, sub-section 1 of PMDC act 2022 clearly mentions that the aptitude test of MDCAT will be designed by the provincial governments from the books of intermediate.

So, until the final decision of the body responsible for the MDCAT 2022, aspirants should be focused on the MDCAT preparation as per the PMC syllabus from the books of their board only.


7.     Will PMDC change the MDCAT 2022?


According to the provisions of section 51 of the PMDC act, it is clear that only at the commencement of the act, PMDC will be empowered to conduct the operations in accordance to the law. Here commencement means when the PMDC act is approved by the senate and the president's office.


                                                                                                 

                                                                                                            

         

                                   

 Click here to see the bill of PMDC Act 2022



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