The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) through its Medical and Dental Undergraduate Education (Admission, Curriculum, and Conduct) Regulations 2021 had last year informed the public and private medical and dental colleges regarding the admission process, timelines and procedures for the conduct of admissions for the session 2021-2022.
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As per the regulations, both private and public sector colleges had to strictly follow the statutory timelines for admissions and upload the list of admitted students on the PMC portal, as per the published and announced schedule. The colleges were repeatedly informed, reminded and updated regarding the approaching timelines which were directly notified and publicly announced to ensure that compliance could be ensured by the closure of the admission process.
Despite PMC’s numerous efforts to warrant that colleges follow the prescribed timelines to ensure students are properly facilitated; a total of 5,873 (28.31%) seats both from public and private medical and dental colleges remained vacant by the end of the admission process for the session 2021-2022. Out of the total 3,682 seats available in private and public dental colleges, 1,936 (52.6%) seats remained vacant till the announced admission deadline. On the other hand, out of the 17,065 seats in public and private medical colleges 3,937 (23.07%) seats remained vacant.
Tellingly 78% (3,078) of the vacant seats in medical colleges are from Public Medical colleges and 47% (917) seats in Public Dental colleges remained vacant due to non-compliance by the public universities of the admission deadlines. The Authority held a meeting with medical and dental colleges on 14th February 2022 to discuss the issue of vacant seats. The Medical and Dental Council during its meeting held on 15th February 2022 discussed and reviewed the status of vacant seats after the closure of admissions and considered the views of the colleges, as received.
The Council unanimously approved that subsequent to the assessment of admitted student lists uploaded by each private and public medical and dental college and reconciling any complaints by students, admissions on Vacant Seats shall be carried out by the Authority under the Vacant Seat Policy approved and issued by the Council.
Under the Policy, those colleges, which are mostly public universities, who have failed to upload their admitted lists have been given time till 18th February to upload their lists subject to students already admitted in any other college as per uploaded lists shall not be shifted and imposition of fine on these colleges and universities for failing to abide by the deadlines.
After 18th February any vacant seats shall be offered by the Authority to eligible students who have not already been admitted and placements will be offered one time strictly on merit to ensure all admissions are complete by 28th February 2022.
The above-mentioned measures have been taken by PMC to ensure that students get their right to admission despite the negligence of the colleges in following the timelines that had been repeatedly notified. PMC has been working proactively to ensure that colleges comply with the regulations and timelines and being the statutory regulator PMC remains objective towards safeguarding a transparent and merit-based system for admissions.
