ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strictly enforce the fee-capping policy for medical and dental colleges across the country, stating that any excess amount charged from students beyond the approved limit will either be refunded or adjusted in the following academic year.
The assurance was given during an interactive meeting with media representatives chaired by PM&DC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj and attended by Registrar Dr. Rehan Asghar Naqvi. The session focused on key achievements and ongoing initiatives of the council, while also addressing public-interest issues including fee regulation, student welfare, and institutional compliance.
Media representatives acknowledged the council’s fee-capping initiative but raised concerns that some institutions were still charging fees above the officially approved ceiling. Responding to these concerns, Dr. Rizwan said PM&DC was closely monitoring all medical and dental colleges to ensure full compliance with the policy and expressed concern for students, stating that every aspiring candidate deserves access to high-standard medical and dental education regardless of financial background.
He noted that PM&DC had repeatedly issued public notices advising students and parents not to pay any amount beyond the approved fee cap. He added that strict action had already been taken against non-compliant institutions, with show-cause notices issued to 12 colleges found violating the policy. However, he said some of these institutions had approached courts and the matter was currently sub judice.
Despite ongoing litigation, the PM&DC president said an understanding had been reached with the Pakistan Association of Medical Institutions (PAMI) under which institutions would withdraw court cases and provide relief to students. A follow-up meeting with PAMI is scheduled for the end of the month to decide cases where institutions seek enhanced fee caps of up to Rs2.5 million, for which detailed financial justifications will be required and assessed through a formal evaluation process before approval.
The council reiterated that unless formally authorized, any institution charging fees above the approved limit would be bound to compensate students through refunds or adjustments in the next academic year.
