The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has finalized a major decision to reduce the fees of private medical and dental colleges across the country. This step has been taken to make medical education more affordable and accessible. The decision was made by the Medical Education Committee which was formed under directives of PM Shehbaz Sharif. The annual tuition fee for MBBS and BDS programs at private institutions has been capped at Rs 1.8 million. This cap will be applied equally across all academic years as per new policy.
Starting from the 2025 session, medical colleges will be allowed to increase fees by a maximum of 5% annually. From 2026 onwards any increase in tuition fees will be linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPA). The PMDC directive also states that any private medical or dental college that has charged students more than the permitted amount will be required to refund or adjust the excess payment. Furthermore no college will be allowed to raise fees beyond the set limit unless it receives prior approval from the PMDC.
Colleges that seek permission for higher fees will have to submit complete financial details for review. Strict legal action will be taken against any institution that fails to comply with the new regulations. It is important to note that the PMDC had also set a fee limit of Rs 500,000 per year in 2012 but many colleges did not follow that rule. In July of last year, the PMDC had approached the health ministry to seek legal advice on enforcing a uniform fee structure but the issue of high and unjustified fees remained unresolved until now. This new step is seen as a major effort toward guaranteeing transparency, fairness and affordability in medical education.
