14 private medical colleges served notices for overcharging up to Rs4m, NA panel told

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) stated on Monday that 14 private medical colleges have been formally served show-cause notices for breaching the approved annual fee cap of Rs 18 to 25 lakh, with some institutions reportedly charging between Rs 30 and 40 lakh from students.

The disclosure before the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health prompted sharp reactions from lawmakers, who accused regulators of failing in their basic duty by permitting colleges to continue admissions while exploiting families. Committee Chairman Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani demanded immediate disclosure of the violators’ names, dates of notices, and progress on penalties, warning that guilty institutions must face fines and potential cancellation of registration. PMDC President initially resisted naming the colleges, irking members, until newly appointed Registrar Dr Rehan Naqvi consulted official documents and read out the list. He assured the committee that non-compliant colleges would face penalties without exception.

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal acknowledged widespread manipulation of fee structures and confirmed a nationwide verification survey would begin in Islamabad to scrutinise actual fees during the admission season. “If any college charges above the notified ceiling, it will have to justify it before this committee,” he said.

Lawmakers highlighted that 122 of Pakistan’s 188 medical colleges are private, deeming it unacceptable that oversight remains reactive and complaint-driven. They insisted regulators must intervene proactively, rather than responding to media coverage or parental pressure. The committee also connected high fees to mounting financial distress among medical students, cautioning that unchecked commercialisation is transforming MBBS admissions into an auction system, excluding deserving candidates.

In the same session, members addressed irregularities in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) policy, questioning the two-year validity of results and the lack of a relative marking mechanism, which disadvantages fresh high achievers despite thousands scoring above 95 per cent. They urged PMDC to ensure academic equity ahead of the next MDCAT cycle.

The Nursing Council Ordinance drew fierce criticism, with members alleging politically influenced appointments and misuse of legal cover. The Health Minister pledged that no pre-ordinance appointments deemed illegal will be validated with all such cases subject to legal review. The committee directed that provincial representation and merit criteria be upheld in forming the new 19-member council, which would be forwarded to the Law Ministry for scrutiny.

Members further raised concerns over reports of medicines being distributed under parliamentarians’ names without authentication, calling for an online tracking system to curb misuse and enhance transparency at parliamentary dispensaries and public clinics. The chairman closed the session with a firm warning that the committee would monitor compliance closely and would not tolerate medical education being hijacked as a profit scheme by private lobbies under lax oversight.