MDCAT Result Validity Cut From 3 Years to 1 in Pakistan, NA Health Committee Directs
The NA health committee told the ministry on 11 November 2026 to cut MDCAT result validity from 3 years to 1 from next session. Fee cap stays Rs 1.8 million.
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The National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Health Services directed the federal health ministry on 11 November 2026 to cut the validity of an MDCAT result from three years to one year, starting from the next academic year. The committee said the health minister agreed. It also called for MDCAT 2026 results to stand valid, so admissions for this session can go ahead.
We read the committee's own press release on the National Assembly website on the night of 12 November. It also says the fee cap for private medical colleges stands at Rs 1.8 million, that 35 colleges were allowed higher fees, and that about 400 hospitals were sealed in Islamabad during 2026. Below is what each decision means for students, and what has not happened yet.
MDCAT validity goes from 3 years to 1 year from next session
The release says the committee "directed the Ministry to reduce the validity of MDCAT results from three years to one year, effective from the next academic year". The reason it gives is the problem of vacant seats in medical and dental colleges. It also directed that the vice chancellors of all universities that conduct MDCAT be formally told.
In simple words: today, a student who passes MDCAT can use that score for admission for up to three years. Under the committee's direction, a score would count for one admission year only. A student who wants to try again the next year would have to sit MDCAT again.
| Point | What the release says |
|---|---|
| Validity now | 3 years |
| Validity directed | 1 year |
| From when | The next academic year |
| Reason given | Vacant medical and dental college seats |
| MDCAT 2026 results | Called to stand valid |
| Minister's response | Agreed to the direction |
This is a committee direction, not a notified rule yet
A standing committee can direct a ministry, but the MDCAT rules are made by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC). The release does not say the rule has been changed, and it does not name a date. "Next academic year" most likely means the 2027-28 admission session, but that is our reading, not the release's.
So we suggest students treat this as a strong signal, not a final rule. Until PM&DC publishes amended regulations, the current three-year validity still applies on paper. Here is what to do now:
- If you passed MDCAT in 2024 or 2025 and planned to use that score later, plan to use it in the 2026-27 admissions now.
- If you are taking MDCAT in 2027, assume you will need to sit it again if you miss admission that year.
- Check the PM&DC website for an amended regulation before you rely on an older score.
- Keep your MDCAT result card safe, as colleges still ask for it at admission.
Our page on how to check your MDCAT 2026 result and aggregate explains how the score feeds into merit.
MDCAT 2026 results stand, and admissions can go ahead
The committee heard the vice chancellors of the universities that held MDCAT 2026. According to the release, they said no major irregularity was reported. Most complaints were about question papers and answer keys, and the universities dealt with them. A six-member PM&DC team also visited the Sukkur IBA exam centre and reported no serious problem.
On that basis, the committee called for the 2026 results to stand valid and for universities to go ahead with admissions "without unnecessary delay". The chairman also said students should be given access to question papers after future exams. That is a request for later years, not a change to MDCAT 2026.
Private college fees: Rs 1.8 million cap, up to Rs 2.1 million for some
The committee was told that the fee cap stood at Rs 1.8 million. Fee increases were allowed for 35 institutions on the basis of audit reports. For a few, the higher fee reached a maximum of Rs 2.1 million, and only after the Council's approval. The release does not say whether these figures are per year, and it does not list the 35 colleges.
| Fee point | Figure in the release |
|---|---|
| Fee cap | Rs 1.8 million |
| Colleges allowed a higher fee | 35 |
| Highest approved fee | Rs 2.1 million, for a few |
| Basis | Audit reports and Council approval |
The committee took notice of reports that some colleges charge above the approved limit. It directed PM&DC to act against them, to send an updated list of colleges charging more, and to charge them the maximum penalty. It also raised reports that students were harassed or stopped from attending class for not paying extra charges. PM&DC said it had issued notices and would take up the matter at its next Council meeting.
The committee asked for the full list of colleges given a higher fee, their audit reports, and copies of the court orders, including a stay order and its later vacation. Our guide to the PM&DC tuition fee cap for private medical colleges has the college-by-college figures PM&DC published earlier.
About 400 hospitals sealed in Islamabad during 2026
The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) told the committee that about 400 hospitals had been sealed during 2026. The committee asked IHRA to send the details. The release does not say why they were sealed, how many reopened, or whether the figure includes clinics and labs. It does say the committee wants IHRA to discuss its oversight of private clinics and laboratories, including alleged malpractice.
The committee also pressed for IHRA's board to be set up and working. The ministry said that matter is with the Prime Minister.
Other points from the same meeting
- PIMS nursery fire: on the fire at the PIMS Mother and Child Hospital nursery on 26 August 2026, the ministry said two committees were formed and work on all 34 recommendations is under way, reviewed every two weeks at the Prime Minister's level.
- Polyclinic: the committee asked for progress on the 400-bed Polyclinic Hospital expansion and said it must finish on time.
- Doctors and FBR: FBR will be invited to the next meeting about tax issues raised by the Pakistan Medical Association for doctors in private practice.
- Pharmacy Council Bill: the ministry must present a draft within one month.
How we checked this
We opened the committees page of the National Assembly press releases on 12 November 2026 at about 22:00 PKT. Every committee release sits on one very long page with no separate link for each item, so we searched the page for the health committee entry dated 11 November and read it in full. The figures above are quoted from that release. The release does not mention an amended PM&DC regulation, so we describe the change as a direction, not a rule.
Common questions
Is MDCAT validity now one year?
Not yet in the rules. The NA health committee directed the ministry on 11 November 2026 to cut it to one year from the next academic year, and the minister agreed. PM&DC has to amend its regulations.
Does this affect my MDCAT 2026 score?
The committee called for MDCAT 2026 results to stand valid and for admissions to go ahead. The one-year rule is meant to start from the next academic year.
Can I still use my 2024 MDCAT score?
Under the current three-year rule, a 2024 score should still count this session, but check the admission notice of the university you apply to. Use it now rather than wait, because the rule is set to change.
What is the private medical college fee cap?
The committee was told it is Rs 1.8 million, with higher fees of up to Rs 2.1 million allowed for a few of 35 colleges after audits and Council approval.
What can I do if my college charges more than the cap?
The committee directed PM&DC to act against such colleges. Keep your fee vouchers and complain to PM&DC in writing. First check that your medical college is PM&DC recognised.
How many hospitals were sealed in Islamabad in 2026?
About 400, according to IHRA's briefing to the committee. The release does not give the reasons or a list.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
National Assembly of Pakistan, Committee press releases: "Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination meets, November 11, 2026", read on 12 November 2026 at about 22:00 PKT. We will update this page when PM&DC notifies the MDCAT change.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
