The Medical and Dental Admissions Test (MDCAT) was made mandatory for admission to medical colleges across the country by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
Justice Shah’s five-page decision noted that admission to public universities’ medical and dental programmes should be based solely on merit, as determined by the province governments’ policies.
On September 27, a three-member SC bench comprised of Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, and Justice Munib Akhtar reserved their decision.
Separately, the Sindh cabinet decided today to reduce the MDCAT-2021 passing percentage from 65 percent to 50 percent, allowing candidates with less than a 50 percent score to be allowed for admission in Session 2021-2022.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a Sindh cabinet meeting in Karachi that reached the decision.
This move would not only allow provincial candidates to apply for admission to Sindh’s medical and dentistry colleges/universities, but it would also allow for the use of unfilled/vacant seats, according to CM Murad.
“Any student seeking admission to any medical or dental college shall be obliged to have completed the MDCAT examination held by PMC,” the court said, citing the act.
It’s worth noting that the LHC and IHC both turned down the student’s appeal against MDCAT.
