ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, while talking to Health Matters Media, said he had taken notice of complaints raised by students and parents over the results and conduct of the recent Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) in Sindh and had directed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to constitute a high-powered committee to investigate the matter.
Senator Chishti said the committee had been directed to visit different MDCAT examination centres across Sindh and conduct a comprehensive inquiry into complaints surrounding the test process and results.
He said serious concerns had been expressed by a number of students regarding the recent MDCAT results, particularly those of students from Karachi studying at reputable educational institutions.
“These concerns cannot be ignored, and a comprehensive investigation is necessary to ensure merit and transparency,” he said.
According to the committee chairman, the proposed high-powered committee would examine the performance of candidates at each testing centre, compare success rates across different centres and determine whether there were any unusual variations in the results.
The investigation would also examine whether any illegal activity, irregularity or malpractice had taken place that could have provided an unfair advantage to any candidate.
Senator Chishti said that if the investigation produced concrete evidence of irregularities or illegal activities, the possibility of conducting the MDCAT again could also be considered. He noted that re-examinations had been held in the past under similar circumstances.
He said the relevant standing committee in Sindh had also been asked to review the rules and regulations governing MDCAT and share its recommendations with the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services.
Senator Chishti said proposals had also been sent to the Ministry of National Health Services and PMDC for improvements in the MDCAT system. These included a proposal to increase the weightage of matriculation and intermediate examination marks alongside MDCAT scores so that students’ overall academic performance could have a greater role in determining merit.
He further said that a letter was being sent to the Sindh Health Department seeking a comprehensive inquiry into the MDCAT conducted through the Sindh Testing Services and asking that the inquiry report be shared with the Senate Standing Committee.
The committee chairman said that once all investigations and reports were completed, further decisions would be taken while keeping the interests of students, merit and transparency at the forefront.
