PMDC directive for collecting question paper after MDCAT questioned

LAHORE: The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) has issued an unexpected directive requiring universities to collect Medical & Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) question papers immediately following the September 20 examination, prompting concerns over transparency and candidates' right to challenge disputed questions. The directive cites the "safe and smooth conduct of the examination" as the reason for not allowing candidates to retain the papers.

In Punjab, the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, has been handing over the MDCAT question paper to candidates for years, a practice that began in 2017. This sudden change has sparked debates, with candidates questioning the rationale behind abandoning a practice that allows self-assessment and challenges ambiguous or technically incorrect questions.

Critics argue that the new policy could leave candidates dependent on an official answer key or result, without the ability to independently examine the test for issues. The decision was reportedly discussed during a consultative meeting involving the PMDC, university representatives, and provincial health department officials. While no specific allegations of malpractice or security breaches were cited, it was suggested that candidates from other provinces had been demanding the same facility, claiming they were being treated differently from those in Punjab.

The UHS in Punjab had built its MDCAT examination process around measures to strengthen transparency and credibility. Candidates in Punjab are now seeking clarification on whether the PMDC considered the legal and academic implications of this decision before issuing the directive.