The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has released the answer key for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) just five hours after the exam concluded, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.
According to reports, candidates can calculate their scores themselves with the help of this key. The official result will be declared in a week after which the admission schedule will be announced.
There are 3376 MBBS seats in 16 public sector medical colleges and 240 BDS seats in 03 public dental colleges in Punjab. Besides, there are around 4500 MBBS and 800 BDS seats in 45 private sector medical and dental colleges of the province.
Earlier, as many as 66,864 candidates including 45,121 females and 21,743 males appeared in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) which was conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Sunday, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to reports, the test started at 1000 hrs and went off peacefully for three and a half hours at 29 centres set up in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Multan, Rawalpindi Bahawalpur, and DG Khan.
In Lahore, a total of 13,259 female and 5755 male candidates appeared in the test at the Government College University, University of Education Township, Lahore College for Women University, Government APWA College for Women, Divisional Public-School Model Town, Government Queen Mary Graduate College, Divisional Public School Township, Government Graduate College for Women Township and Government Graduate College for Women, Gulberg. Meanwhile, in Multan, 13591 candidates appeared in the test. The number of candidates in Bahawalpur was 5060, Faisalabad 7528, Gujranwala 4142, Sialkot 2573, Sahiwal 3707, Rawalpindi 3335, Sargodha 3123, Gujrat 1727 and D.G. Khan 3064 candidates appeared in the test.
Punjab Health Minister Professor Javed Akram and Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan visited various examination centres in Lahore.
While talking to the media Prof Javed Akram expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements.
The Health Minister said that UHS had made immaculate arrangements for the MDCAT. “All the candidates and their parents have been provided a comfortable environment”, Prof. Javed Akram said adding that the exam started on time and would end on time. He further said that MDCAT was a tough competition and every effort had been made to uphold merit and transparency.
UHS VC, Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, said that the conduct of MDCAT was important as it would ensure merit and justice. He further said that new standard operating procedures were developed and fresh multi-tiered security measures were taken for every step of preparation, printing, packaging, and transportation of MDCAT paper.
Along with Prof Javed Akram, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Asghar Zaidi, Principal Ameer-ud-Din Medical College, Prof Al Fareed Zafar and Special Secretary Fatima Sheikh were present at the Government College University Lahore.