Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced that passing the MDCAT will be mandatory for all admissions to government medical colleges in the province.
Chairing a special health sector meeting, CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized that no cancer patient should be left untreated due to financial constraints. She directed that every poor patient in Punjab must receive free treatment at any hospital, reinforcing her commitment to accessible healthcare.
The new policy also specifies fees for children of overseas Pakistanis appearing in the MDCAT, set at $10,000. Candidates on private medical college merit lists will deposit one-third of the fee with the University of Health Sciences (UHS). After the final merit list is released, UHS will transfer the amount to the respective college, and students will pay the remaining fee directly to their private medical or dental college.
The meeting introduced compulsory service for doctors after postgraduate training in private hospitals. Trainee doctors will be assigned to specialized departments in private medical colleges according to demand, ensuring practical experience and skill development.
CM Maryam Nawaz also approved a plan to build medical blocks within government universities instead of constructing entirely new college buildings. This approach is designed to expand facilities in a cost-effective manner. She welcomed recent medical milestones, including the first successful angioplasty in Sahiwal and the start of surgeries at the Sahiwal Cardiac Center. The Chief Minister also instructed Mayo Hospital to develop transparent procedures for treatments at the coablation center.
Additionally, the meeting approved the formation of management boards for various institutions and took steps for the early establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Medical City.
The MDCAT requirement and related reforms are expected to improve the quality of medical education in Punjab. The policy aims to ensure merit-based admissions, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, and provide free treatment to poor and critically ill patients across the province.
In other related news also read PMDC Releases Revised MDCAT 2025 Syllabus
