A Senate subcommittee has raised concerns over nearly 1,000 complaints related to MDCAT 2026, including questions about the syllabus, exam schedule and the high cost of private coaching academies.
The meeting was chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman and attended by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, PMDC officials and university representatives.
135,000 Candidates Expected
PMDC officials informed the committee that around 135,000 students are expected to appear in MDCAT 2026.
The test will be held in 36 cities, including 35 centres in Pakistan and one in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The official test date is August 16, 2026.
Questions Raised Over Syllabus
Senator Rahman highlighted complaints that FSc students were being asked to prepare A-Level material, while A-Level candidates were also facing difficulties with FSc-based content.
PMDC officials said the national syllabus was designed around common topics from both education systems and had been prepared after consultation with students, teachers and subject experts.
Expensive Academies Also Discussed
The committee questioned why students were being pushed towards costly MDCAT preparation academies.
Mustafa Kamal said the system could be improved but claimed that some academies were creating unnecessary panic. He invited students with genuine complaints to approach PMDC directly.
The panel also discussed the limited preparation time after intermediate examinations. Officials said the final board exams concluded on July 20, while MDCAT is scheduled for August 16.
