{
  "id": 7485445,
  "title": "PMDC Reduces BDS Program Duration",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/pmdc-reduces-bds-program-duration",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-15T05:53:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ProPakistani",
    "slug": "propakistani",
    "url": "https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/15/pmdc-reduces-bds-program-duration/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced that the duration of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program will remain at four years, reversing its previous decision to extend it to five years. This change was confirmed to the Senate Standing Committee on Health on Monday. The committee had previously directed the PMDC to issue a formal notification confirming the four-year BDS program. The decision to revert to the four-year program was made after the earlier extension in November 2024, which was set to take effect from the 2024-25 academic session. The move was based on recommendations from a committee of dental experts aiming to align Pakistan's dental education standards with international practices. The PMDC had previously postponed the implementation of the five-year program for a year in January 2025, as private dental colleges had raised concerns about the lack of sufficient infrastructure, faculty, and other logistical arrangements needed for the additional year.",
  "summary": "The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced that the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program will remain a … Read More The post PMDC Reduces BDS Program Duration appeared first on ProPakistani .",
  "key_points": [
    "PMDC reverts BDS program to four years, rejecting five-year extension.",
    "Decision based on international dental education standards.",
    "Extension postponed a year due to infrastructure concerns."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The PMDC's decision to retain the four-year BDS program duration aligns Pakistan's dental education standards with international practices, benefiting private dental colleges by not requiring them to upgrade their infrastructure and faculty.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}