MDCAT question bank launched to ensure fair exams
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal inaugurates PM&DC’s new question bank aimed at strengthening transparency and candidate confidence in MDCAT 2025.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Wednesday inaugurated the newly developed MDCAT Question Bank at the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) headquarters in Islamabad, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and merit in medical and dental admissions across the country.
The inauguration was followed by a detailed briefing led by PM&DC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, Registrar, and the examination team, who presented the comprehensive preparations for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025. Officials informed the minister that PM&DC’s role is limited to registering candidates and supervising the overall examination process, while the responsibility for paper setting, administration, and evaluation rests solely with designated public admitting universities. This division of responsibilities, they said, ensures impartiality and merit-based admissions.
Kamal emphasized that no lapses would be tolerated in the preparations and stressed the importance of the new question bank in minimizing errors, enhancing fairness, and building public confidence in the examination system. He said the initiative would help eliminate past concerns about transparency in the testing process.
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According to PM&DC officials, more than 30 examination venues have been designated nationwide to improve accessibility for candidates. Modern digital safeguards have been deployed to secure the examination process, and an online portal has been introduced for registration and monitoring. As of August 20, 97,028 candidates had registered, and the number is expected to exceed 150,000 before the deadline.
The new question bank is based on a standardized syllabus agreed upon by all provinces, addressing long-standing concerns about regional disparities in MDCAT. Dr. Rizwan Taj noted that the question bank would create a level playing field and restore public trust in admissions. The minister suggested that PM&DC consider expanding the pool of questions shared with universities to provide flexibility in paper preparation.
Kamal further stressed the need for clearly defining responsibilities between PM&DC and provincial universities to ensure transparency and accountability at every stage of the process. He acknowledged challenges in the education sector but said Pakistan’s system remained comparatively strong. The minister reaffirmed that PM&DC’s primary role is policy development and supervision, while provincial universities are tasked with conducting the examinations.
Reiterating government support, Kamal assured that institutional capacity, digitalization, and governance reforms within PM&DC would be strengthened. He said these efforts align with the government’s broader vision of uplifting Pakistan’s health and education sectors.
During the briefing, PM&DC highlighted logistical arrangements, provincial coordination, and technology-driven solutions aimed at reducing errors and streamlining the MDCAT process. Taj emphasized that reforms underway would not only strengthen the credibility of MDCAT but also restore public trust in merit-based admissions. He described the standardized question bank as a significant milestone in addressing fairness concerns and ensuring that all candidates, regardless of region, are assessed on equal footing.
The minister also advised PM&DC to prepare detailed presentations on ongoing institutional challenges to build a comprehensive framework for future reforms. He underscored the urgent need to digitize all processes, including college inspections and regulatory functions, to ensure efficiency, transparency, and minimal human interaction across PM&DC operations.
The inauguration of the MDCAT question bank comes as Pakistan continues to reform its medical education system, following years of debate over centralized testing, regional disparities, and concerns over paper leaks. The initiative marks a significant step in standardizing medical admissions and aligns with global best practices where transparency and digital safeguards play a key role in entrance examinations.
Kamal concluded that the government’s support for PM&DC’s reforms would remain steadfast, particularly as Pakistan prepares to conduct one of the largest medical entrance tests in its history, with over 150,000 expected candidates. The MDCAT Question Bank, officials said, will serve as a cornerstone in ensuring credibility, meritocracy, and nationwide trust in the admissions process.