PMDC orders strict MDCAT monitoring to prevent cheating

Islamabad:The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council's (PMDC’s) top bosses led by President Prof Rizwan Taj met with vice chancellors of the public universities authorised to conduct the next Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) on September 22 across the country and ordered strict monitoring of the test to prevent cheating.

The vice chancellors included Prof A.W. Rathore of UHS Lahore, Prof Saeed Qureshi of Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi, Prof Ziaul Haq of the Khyber Medical University Peshawar and Prof Tariq Iqbal of the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Islamabad. Registrar of the Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences Quetta Zafarullah was also in attendance.

They apprised the PMDC leadership of preparations for the upcoming test to be conducted in 30 Pakistani cities and two international destinations Riyadh and Dubai. The universities said that admit cards had been issued and all preparations had been finalised with all codal formalities. According to them, all relevant quarters, including government authorities and security agencies, have been involved so that the exam is conducted in a fool-proof manner and its secrecy and transparency is maintained.

The VCs said all efforts would be made to ensure smooth conduct of the test. To ensure the MDCAT integrity, the PMDC stressed the importance of transparency and fairness and directed all involved institutions to carry out strict vigilance during the test to avoid malpractice, cheating, or mishaps.

It requested to enforce Section 144 for MDCAT to ensure a secure and transparent examination process nationwide. According to it, the law in question prohibits public gatherings and the use of electronic devices, aiming to prevent cheating and disruptions. Law enforcement will ensure compliance, and promises legal and disciplinary actions to violators.

The PMDC president emphasised the importance of this examination in ensuring only the most qualified and deserving candidates are selected for medical and dental education in Pakistan. “We, in order to maintain standards of Pakistan’s medical and dental education system, call on all stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring a smooth and successful MDCAT,” he said.

For MDCAT, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University has set up 33 centres, the University of Health Sciences 26, Khyber Medical University 13, and Dow University of Health Sciences six.

A total of 167,744 students have been registered for MDCAT. The breakdown of candidate registered for exam in the provinces are Punjab with 58,380 students, Sindh with 38,678, KPK with 42,329, Balochistan with 5,806, ICT with 18,408, AJK 3,145, Gilgit-Baltistan with 739, and 259 international students.