For the first time, private medical colleges in Punjab have failed to fill all available seats, with 426 MBBS seats remaining vacant despite the issuance of a fifth admission list.
According to admission data, 109 candidates did not enroll at all, while 317 students withdrew after securing admission, highlighting a growing crisis in Pakistan’s medical education sector.
Education experts attribute the trend to limited job opportunities, poor pay structures, and uncertain career pathways for young doctors.
After completing house jobs, many graduates struggle to secure training positions, while salaries remain disproportionately low.
Medical officers in private hospitals reportedly earn around Rs40,000, compared to Rs60,000 for house officers, despite years of costly education that can exceed Rs15 million.
Concerns over declining educational standards in some private medical colleges have further worsened the situation.
Issues include strict attendance policies, insufficient clinical exposure, a lack of attached teaching hospitals, and weak regulatory oversight.
Critics allege that inadequate monitoring by regulatory bodies has allowed several institutions to operate without proper facilities, undermining the quality of medical training.
Estimates suggest that 20,000 to 30,000 doctors are currently unemployed in Pakistan, prompting many students to reconsider pursuing medicine as a career.
I partially agree with you but main issue is costly private college fee structure. How many people can afford to pay 2.5 to 3 million annual fee for their one child to become Dr.
I graduated from govt medical college and fee was peanut when compared to private college.
Most of Private medical colleges have poor standard of students intake and education is totally based on commercial aspects rather to serving community.
Average salary of middle class is 70 k to 200 k
How are they able to afford 1.2 million mbbs also hostel fee and other charges make it close to 1.3 million
Fee structure is the main reason why admissions are low