The PMDC has approved annual fee increases for 19 medical and dental colleges across Pakistan. Applications from 20 other institutions were deferred due to incomplete documentation and missing financial records.
According to an official notification, the decision follows recommendations from the Committee on Medical Education formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Under the new approval, selected colleges may raise their annual fees to Rs 2,147,483, including ancillary charges. Previously, the council capped fees at Rs 1.8 million, allowing a five percent annual increase. For the current academic year, the limit was set at Rs 1.89 million. Future fee adjustments will consider the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Among the colleges allowed to increase fees are CMH Medical College, Kharian; Central Park Medical College, Lahore; Niazi Medical and Dental College, Sargodha; University Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad; FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore; Rehman Medical and Dental College, Peshawar; and Islamabad Medical and Dental College. Several other institutions across the country also received approval.
The PMDC deferred 20 applications after colleges failed to submit required audit reports and financial records. Meanwhile, 72 medical and dental colleges did not apply for any fee increase.
Parents of medical students expressed concern over the lack of clarity in the notification. Many want the council to confirm whether the newly approved fees are final or if colleges may impose additional charges.
Some parents also complained that students paid excessive fees during the 2023–24 session, ranging from Rs 2.6 million to Rs 2.8 million. No refunds or adjustments were made despite earlier instructions by the PMDC.
Parents are urging the council to issue clear guidelines to ensure transparency in the fee structure. They also want unresolved issues from previous sessions addressed promptly.
In other related news also read PMDC Strengthens Regulations for Medical Colleges
The PMDC has yet to provide detailed clarification, leaving students and parents seeking guidance on future fee regulations.
