The Punjab government has introduced a new requirement for doctors applying to Level-III postgraduate medical residency programs. From the January 2027 induction, candidates must qualify for the Post Graduate Entrance Test (PGET) before they can be considered for admission.
The decision was announced through an official notification issued by the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department. According to the notification, the policy was approved following recommendations made by the Post Graduate Admission Committee during its meeting held on July 8, 2026.
Under the revised admission rules, all applicants seeking admission to MS, MD, MDS, and FCPS residency training programs in Punjab must first pass the PGET. Without qualifying for the entrance test, candidates will not be eligible for induction into these postgraduate programs.
The University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore has been assigned the responsibility of conducting the entrance examination. The university will also issue detailed information regarding the registration process, examination schedule, syllabus, paper pattern, and other operational guidelines.
According to the official notification, candidates must secure a minimum qualifying percentile of 75 to pass the examination. Only applicants meeting this requirement will move forward in the admission process.
The department clarified that the introduction of the entrance test does not change the existing merit policy. Eligibility requirements and merit calculations for Level-III residency admissions will continue to follow the criteria already notified by the department.
The government believes the new examination will help create a more transparent and standardized admission process. A common entrance test is expected to evaluate candidates using the same academic benchmark before residency placements are finalized.
The policy applies to admissions in several postgraduate medical disciplines. These include Master of Surgery (MS), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Dental Surgery (MDS), and Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) training programs.
Medical graduates planning to pursue specialization in Punjab should begin preparing for the entrance examination well before the admission cycle opens. They are also advised to regularly check announcements issued by the University of Health Sciences for updated information.
The university will separately announce important details, including the application procedure, registration deadlines, examination centers, syllabus, and test pattern. Candidates are encouraged to follow only official sources for accurate updates.
The notification was issued on July 9, 2026, and confirms that the new policy will take effect from the January 2027 induction cycle. All future applicants for Level-III postgraduate residency programs will be required to comply with the revised admission process.
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The latest decision marks an important change in postgraduate medical education in Punjab. By making the PGET compulsory, the government aims to strengthen the admission system while ensuring a fair and uniform selection process for aspiring medical specialists across the province.
