MARDAN; A large number of overseas Pakistanis and foreign nationals are voicing serious concerns over the hurdles they face in securing admission to MBBS and BDS programs in Pakistani medical colleges.
The core issue stems from the outdated requirement of SAT-II in the current admission policy, despite the fact that the College Board in the United States officially discontinued SAT-II exams back in 2021.
Engineer Naeem Shamsher chairman Pakistan Canada Professional Cambridge Ontario Canada and Engineer Dr. Ashfaq Alberta Transportation Edmonton have drawn the attention of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to the matter, urging swift policy reform.
They added that under the 2023 Medical & Dental Undergraduate Education Admission Policy and Regulations—issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) on July 13, 2023 overseas Pakistani and foreign students are allowed to apply for admission through SAT-II as an alternative to the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).
They argued that however, SAT-II is no longer offered by the College Board, having been replaced by the modern Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which is now globally recognized and widely accepted by leading universities in the U.S., Canada, and other countries.
They argued that it is both logistically and financially impractical to travel to Pakistan or limited locations like Saudi Arabia just to take the MDCAT exam.
They added that this is especially burdensome for families residing in North America, the Middle East, and South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
Consequently, a significant number of reserved seats for overseas Pakistanis and foreign students go unutilized each year resulting in lost revenue and missed opportunities for Pakistan’s medical education sector.
In contrast, SAT testing centers are readily available across many countries, including Canada and the U.S., making the test a far more accessible and viable option for aspiring medical students abroad.
Stakeholders have requested that the Prime Minister issue directives to the PM&DC to update its policy and allow the SAT to be accepted in place of the obsolete SAT-II for admissions in the 2025–2026 academic session.
This change, they argue, would not only streamline the application process for overseas students but also ensure that all reserved seats are filled, thereby enhancing foreign remittances and boosting revenue for the nation’s medical colleges.
The call is now for urgent and thoughtful consideration at the highest level to remove
this barrier and pave the way for qualified students from around the world to contribute to Pakistan’s healthcare future.
