Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, declared on Thursday that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) is transitioning to a fully digital system, minimizing human involvement to bolster efficiency, transparency, and trustworthiness in its processes.

The announcement coincided with the inauguration of a new MDCAT question repository at the PMDC headquarters. Minister Kamal, welcomed by PMDC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj and the Registrar, received a briefing on MDCAT 2025 preparations from the examination team.

PMDC officials clarified that the council’s responsibilities are limited to candidate registration and overall oversight. The examination administration, including test development, execution, and grading, rests with designated public admitting universities to guarantee merit-based selection and prevent external influence.

Minister Kamal emphasized the importance of a flawless examination process and commended the new question bank as a vital instrument for reducing inaccuracies, promoting fairness, and bolstering public trust. Over 97,000 aspiring medical students have registered for the exam, with projections anticipating over 150,000 applicants by the deadline.

With over 30 examination centers established nationwide and advanced digital security measures in place, Kamal inspected the online registration and monitoring platform. He encouraged the PMDC to expand the question pool to offer admitting universities more options in test construction. He stressed accountability and openness at each step, reiterating the provincial universities’ role in exam management.

Reaffirming governmental support for strengthening PMDC’s institutional capabilities, governance reforms, and digital shift, Kamal highlighted the broader reform agenda. A fully digitized system for colleges, inspections, and associated functions will ensure efficacy, transparency, and minimal human intervention.

PMDC President Dr. Rizwan Taj assured the Minister of the council’s dedication to upholding merit and restoring public faith. The standardized, syllabus-based question bank tackles long-standing issues of regional inequalities, ensuring a level playing field for all candidates.