The Punjab Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department has strongly opposed the decision to reduce MDCAT minimum merit by 3 percent. This decision was earlier announced by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.

In a letter sent to the PMDC president, the department referred to the notification issued on April 8, 2026. The notification mentioned lowering the minimum merit requirement.

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The issue was discussed in the provincial admission committee meeting held on April 13. Committee members expressed serious concerns over reducing the merit.

According to the letter, the decision appears to be aimed at filling vacant seats in private medical and dental colleges for the academic year 2025-26. This raised questions about the real purpose behind the move.

The committee also recalled that a similar proposal to reduce merit by 5 percent in 2025 was rejected earlier. At that time, concerns were formally shared with the council.

Members observed that there is already a large number of eligible candidates. They said there is no strong justification to reduce the merit.

It was also highlighted that high fees in private medical and dental colleges are a major reason for vacant seats. Many students cannot afford the expensive education.

The committee objected to the procedure as well. It said the matter should have been discussed in the academic board before presenting it to the full council.

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Considering all these concerns, the committee unanimously opposed the merit reduction. It warned that lowering MDCAT standards could harm the quality of medical education.

This decision shows a conflict between filling seats and maintaining quality. Lower merit may help colleges but can affect standards. High fees remain a major issue for students. Without reducing costs, such problems may continue.