LAHORE: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has introduced the extension of the Bachelor of Dental Surgical procedure (BDS) programme to 5 years, efficient from the 2024-2025 educational 12 months.
The transfer, supposed to align Pakistan’s dental training with world requirements, has been formally conveyed to medical universities nationwide.
In line with a PMDC spokesperson, the fifth 12 months will concentrate on 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 programme who require credentials aligned with worldwide necessities.
The PMDC’s determination 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 Take a look at (MDCAT) and guarantee transparency within the examination course of.
The MDCAT Reform Committee has established three sub-committees, fashioned through 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 instructional boards. It’ll additionally draft a Desk of Specs for the examination and description a plan for a sustainable query financial institution.
The E-Evaluation Venture 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 sleek 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 goal to revive public belief and align Pakistan’s medical entrance exams with world requirements.