Summary PMDC says medical and dental seats are approved under the same regulatory framework for public and private institutions, with 1,400 seats approved in public-sector colleges.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has clarified its position on the approval of seats in medical and dental colleges, saying the allocation of seats is carried out under a defined legal and regulatory framework.
According to the PMDC, the council has approved a total of 1,400 seats in public-sector medical and dental colleges across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad.
The council said the increase in seats was aimed particularly at improving access to medical education for students from underserved and less-developed areas.
It said expanding educational opportunities could also help reduce the need for Pakistani students to travel abroad to pursue medical education.
The PMDC rejected the impression that private medical colleges had been allocated more seats than public-sector medical colleges.
According to the council, both public and private medical and dental institutions are subject to the same regulatory standards when seats are approved.
The council said its primary objective was to ensure the availability of quality educational and clinical facilities at medical and dental institutions.
It stressed that patient safety and the quality of medical education would remain key considerations in the approval and allocation of seats.
The PMDC said no compromise would be made on the standards of medical education or patient care while expanding opportunities for students.
The clarification comes amid discussion over the distribution of seats between public and private medical institutions and the regulatory criteria used for approving additional seats.
The council maintained that decisions regarding seat approvals are based on applicable legal and regulatory requirements rather than the public or private status of an institution.
The PMDC said efforts to expand medical education should also be accompanied by adequate academic infrastructure, teaching facilities and clinical resources to ensure that students receive appropriate training.
