Change in MDCAT not to be introduced at once: Roghani

Change in MDCAT not to be introduced at once: Roghani

ISLAMABAD:  National Health Services' (NHS) Senate Standing Committee recently probed Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) over the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT).

PTI Senator Mohammad Hamayun Mohmand presided over the meeting in the Parliament House and considered MDCAT controversial as it was stretched to several days.

Senator Prof Dr Mehr Taj Roghani said she had no doubts about the intention of the PMC but had objections over the contentious procedure. She said there had been out of course questions in MDCAT, but as per PMC, additional marks had been given to students. "I want to ask under what criterion additional marks were awarded", she said.

Senator further added that PMC  shouldn't impose the change at once but instead brought with time and by preparing the people's minds.

Sardar Mohammad Shafiq Tareen, Senator, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, asked about the private company that carried the MDCAT and condemned the charging of Rs6,000 from each student appearing in the test.

The Chairman Committee said the test was controversial as it was conducted on different days rather than on a single day. However, the PMC president said the matter was in court, so the committee should wait for the decision.