PMDC cuts fee of private medical and dental colleges

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday announced a cut in the fee of medical and dental colleges located.

The decision has been made on the prime minister’s instructions through medical education reforms. Now, PMDC has fixed the fee at private medical and dental colleges at Rs1.8 million. Also, private colleges will be required to submit details of their assets to PMDC. Annual fee increases will be made on the basis of CPI, and no medical or dental college will be allowed to increase the fee on their own.

The decision was made by the Committee on Medical Education Reforms, formed on the prime minister’s directive and chaired by the deputy prime minister. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

“The rising cost of tuition in private institutions has long been a burden for students and their families,” the statement read. “This decision marks a significant step towards accessible and equitable medical education in Pakistan.”

The PMDC noted that the issue had previously been discussed in council meetings held on June 4 2022, December 10 2023, and February 23 2024. In its most recent development, a sub-committee chaired by Prof Dr Masood Gondal was formed on February 27 2025.

The committee engaged stakeholders including private colleges and the Pakistan Association of Medical Institutions (PAMI) before presenting its final recommendations.

Following a detailed financial analysis and stakeholder consultation, the reforms committee determined that Rs1.8 million would be the standard annual tuition fee for MBBS and BDS programmes. The fee may be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

PMDC clarified that institutions seeking to charge more — up to a maximum of Rs2.5 million per year — would be required to submit detailed financial justifications, including comparisons with similar institutions, services offered, and academic enhancements.

“Unreasonable or unjustified fee hikes will not be entertained,” the council stated, adding that all tuition increases must be transparent and aligned with actual educational costs.

“It is essential to maintain the financial viability of private institutions, but fees must remain reasonable and reflect real costs,” the statement concluded.

Earlier this week, PMDC approved recommendations to regulate fees for private medical and dental colleges, marking a significant step toward making medical education more affordable.

The recommendations were sent to a special committee for final review, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who chairs the committee on medical education, made the official announcement on Thursday.