KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Centre has expressed serious concern over what it described as a persistent decline in the number of candidates appearing for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), warning that failure to address the underlying causes could contribute to a shortage of qualified doctors in Pakistan over the coming decade.
Citing official figures released by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), the PMA said the number of MDCAT candidates stood at 194,133 in 2021, increased to 204,253 in 2022, declined to 180,534 in 2023, reached around 182,000 in 2024, fell sharply to 140,071 in 2025 and remained at approximately 138,000 in 2026.
According to the association, the figures indicate a substantial decline from the peak of more than 204,000 candidates recorded in 2022.
The PMA said that despite repeated relaxation of registration timelines by the PM&DC, applicant numbers failed to return to previous levels. Following the rescheduling of MDCAT to September 20, 2026, the registration portal was reopened for a special five-day period from August 17 to 21 to accommodate candidates affected by regional disruptions and administrative delays.
However, the association said only 2,063 additional candidates registered during the extended period, bringing the final number of applicants to just over 138,000.
PMA Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said the limited response during the reopened registration window indicated that the decline could not simply be attributed to missed deadlines or procedural difficulties.
He said the fall from more than 204,000 candidates in 2022 to around 138,000 in 2026 reflected what the association viewed as a growing loss of interest among young students in pursuing medicine as a career in Pakistan.
The PMA identified rising tuition fees at private medical and dental colleges as one of the major factors affecting students and their families, particularly those from middle- and lower-income groups.
It also highlighted concerns about the career prospects of young doctors, saying medical graduates undergo years of demanding education and training but frequently encounter inadequate starting salaries, delays in house-job stipends and a shortage of paid postgraduate residency positions.
The association further raised concerns over incidents of violence against healthcare workers in public hospitals and called for stronger legal protection for doctors and other healthcare professionals.
According to the PMA, students with pre-medical backgrounds are also increasingly considering alternative fields, including computer science, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and health data analytics, which may offer faster career progression, competitive salaries and greater opportunities for international mobility.
The PMA urged the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, PM&DC and provincial health departments to take measures aimed at restoring students' confidence in medical education and the healthcare profession.
It called for regulation of private medical college tuition fees and transparent, merit-based financial assistance mechanisms for deserving students. The association also demanded timely payment of stipends to house officers and postgraduate residents and the creation of regular medical officer positions in public healthcare facilities.
The PMA further called for expedited enactment of federal legislation for the protection of healthcare professionals to ensure safer workplaces in hospitals.
At the same time, the association cautioned authorities against lowering MDCAT passing percentages or compromising academic standards merely to fill vacant seats in private medical colleges, saying policymakers should instead address the economic, professional and security-related factors discouraging students from entering medicine.
The PMA warned that failure to address these systemic issues could contribute to a critical shortage of doctors in Pakistan over the coming decade and place additional pressure on the country's public healthcare system.
