The Planning Commission of Pakistan has recommended immediate reforms in the evaluation system for MBBS and BDS students, calling the current method excessively stringent compared to regional standards. The proposal has been forwarded to the federal health ministry for review.
According to sources, a large number of medical students had reached out to the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, complaining about the rigid criteria enforced in public and private colleges affiliated with the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore.
Students explained that even if they score high in practical exams, missing just one mark in theory leads to failure and a wasted academic year. The rule requires candidates to secure at least 50 percent in both theory and practical exams separately. For example, each block requires 75 marks in theory and 75 in practicals — failing even one block in theory results in disqualification, regardless of practical performance.
In the July 2025 supplementary exams, out of 1,195 first-year MBBS candidates, more than 500 were declared failed. Across other classes, the number of failed MBBS and BDS students in the recent supplementary results approached 1,700.
Students pointed out that in India, medical education follows a weighted average system, where theory and practical scores are combined (either a 60:40 or 40:60 ratio). If the average reaches 50 percent, the student is declared to have passed. By contrast, in Pakistan, even a one-mark shortfall in theory leads to losing an entire year, despite passing practicals.
Following an internal inquiry, senior officials at the Planning Commission determined that the students’ complaints were valid. Many who failed had cleared practical exams but were short by only a few marks in one theory block. The commission described the current one-supplementary rule as unfair, especially when factors like illness or family emergencies prevent students from performing in that single chance.
The Commission has now advised that students failing by a narrow margin should be reassessed under the weighted average method. Those achieving at least 50 percent when theory and practical marks are combined should be declared successful immediately.
The findings have been shared with Federal Health Minister Syed Kamal Mustafa through the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. The report recommends directing the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to amend its regulations and instruct universities to review results accordingly.
A former vice chancellor also weighed in, saying it is unreasonable to waste a student’s entire academic year over a few marks. Instead, such students could be promoted to the next year while being allowed to clear the failed subject.
Meanwhile, parents and students are voicing concerns about the financial burden. Private medical colleges charge between PKR 2.5 million to 2.8 million annually, and repeating a year due to minor failures means paying hefty fees again — a challenge especially for families already struggling with economic hardships and flood-related damages. They are urging PMDC to take swift action, either by applying the weighted average formula or allowing conditional promotion with supplementary clearance.
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Would the worthy intellectuals who have forwarded this suggestion be like to get themselves treated by a person who has less than half the required theoratical knowledge. A doctor has to deal with human lives thats why it has highest merit and tough training. Practical exams are open to nepitism and hardly any students faiks in practical exams especially in private medical colleges.
Students in Private Medical Colleges are already nonserious as there institutions try it’s best to pass them on minimum criteria.Morever,due to modular system, students have developed,nonserious attitude towards minor subjects.Govt should Control the fee . This is not the solution to cut down financial burden .I also second toAR .