The Planning Commission of Pakistan has recommended reforms in the evaluation system for medical students, focusing on the current Passing Criteria. Officials said the existing system is overly strict and causes unnecessary academic failures. The proposal has been sent to the federal health ministry for review.
According to sources, MBBS and BDS students contacted the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, raising concerns about the rigid Passing Criteria in colleges affiliated with the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore.
Students explained that even excellent practical exam scores cannot offset missing a few marks in theory. The current Passing Criteria require students to secure at least 50 percent in both theory and practical exams separately. For example, each block contains 75 marks in theory and 75 in practicals. Failing theory in any block leads to failing the entire year, regardless of practical performance.
In the July 2025 supplementary exams, more than 500 out of 1,195 first-year MBBS students failed. Across all classes, nearly 1,700 MBBS and BDS students failed. Students compared the system with India, where theory and practical marks are combined using a weighted average. If the overall score reaches 50 percent, students pass.
The Planning Commission found the complaints valid. Many students failed by only a few marks in theory despite excelling in practicals. The commission recommended adopting a weighted average system so that students meeting 50 percent overall are considered successful.
The report has been shared with Federal Health Minister Syed Kamal Mustafa, urging the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to amend regulations. Officials and education experts suggested conditional promotion for students who narrowly miss the Passing Criteria.
Parents and students have highlighted the financial burden. Private medical colleges charge between PKR 2.5 million and 2.8 million annually. Repeating a year due to minor failures adds extra costs, creating hardship for families. PMDC has been urged to implement reforms swiftly.
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