LAHORE: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has mandated an extension of the Bachelor of Dental Surgical procedure (BDS) programme to 5 years, efficient from the 2024-2025 educational session.
The choice, aimed toward aligning Pakistan’s dental training with worldwide requirements, has been formally communicated to all medical universities throughout the nation.
In keeping with a PMDC spokesperson, the fifth 12 months will give attention to clerkship, enhancing hands-on expertise for college students, adopted by a one-year structured home job or internship.
This restructuring is available in response to challenges confronted by Pakistani graduates in securing coaching and employment alternatives overseas, the place a five-year transcript is commonly a prerequisite.
The College of Well being Sciences (UHS) in Lahore has already adopted the five-year construction, and official notifications have been issued to all PMDC-recognised universities to implement the revised framework.
The council has additionally dedicated to issuing up to date transcripts for graduates of the earlier four-year program who require credentials aligned with worldwide necessities.
The PMDC’s resolution follows broader efforts to reform Pakistan’s medical and dental training system.
Alongside this initiative, the council has launched measures to enhance the Medical and Dental School Admission Check (MDCAT) and guarantee transparency within the examination course of.
The MDCAT Reform Committee has established three sub-committees, shaped throughout the inaugural assembly held on the PM&DC workplace on Wednesday, tasked with drafting a unified syllabus, proposing e-assessment methods, and formulating complete coverage tips.
The MDCAT Syllabus Committee, comprising 4 members, will develop a unified syllabus that aligns with native and overseas academic boards. It should additionally draft a Desk of Specs for the examination and description a plan for a sustainable query financial institution.
The E-Evaluation Undertaking Committee, with three members, is tasked with making a safe query financial institution portal and proposing an e-assessment plan, together with technical specs and value estimates.
Lastly, the two-member MDCAT Coverage Doc Committee will work on a complete coverage for the graceful implementation of the nationwide examination.
These sub-committees have been directed to submit their drafts by December, after which the motion plan will probably be reviewed.
These reforms purpose to revive public belief and align Pakistan’s medical entrance exams with world requirements.