The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has issued show-cause notices to 14 private medical colleges for violating the approved annual fee limit of Rs. 1.8 to 2.5 million, after reports revealed that some institutions were charging between Rs. 3 and 4 million from students.
The disclosure was made during a session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health, where lawmakers sharply criticized the PMDC for failing to regulate private colleges and allowing them to exploit families. Committee Chairman Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani demanded that the council publicly share the names of the violators, dates of issued notices, and the progress of disciplinary actions.
He emphasized that institutions found guilty should face heavy fines and possible cancellation of registration.
Initially, PMDC President hesitated to disclose the list, drawing criticism from members. However, Registrar Dr. Rehan Naqvi later read out the names after consulting official documents and assured the committee that penalties would be imposed on all non-compliant institutions.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal admitted that fee manipulation is a widespread issue and announced a nationwide verification survey starting in Islamabad to assess the actual fee structures during admissions. “Any college charging beyond the approved limit will have to justify it before this committee,” he stated.
Lawmakers noted that out of 188 medical colleges in Pakistan, 122 are privately owned, urging the PMDC to act proactively rather than waiting for complaints. They also warned that excessive fees were pushing medical education out of reach for deserving students, turning MBBS admissions into a “bidding war.”
