Medical Colleges Fees: 45 Charging Extra, NA Body Told
Medical colleges fees have come under scrutiny, with private colleges charging students up to Rs600,000 above the approved fee. A National Assembly committee has now sought inspection reports of the institutions for the past two years.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Health on Wednesday took notice of the failure to implement a decision extending the validity of Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) results to three years, The Express Tribune reported on Thursday. It also expressed concern over private medical colleges allegedly charging students fees beyond the prescribed limits.
Medical colleges fees under scrutiny
Committee member Dr Shazia Soomro told the meeting that 45 private medical colleges were charging students more than the officially prescribed fees. According to her, some students were being asked to pay an additional Rs600,000.
The president of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) told the committee that show-cause notices had been issued to the colleges concerned. The committee subsequently sought their inspection reports covering the last two years.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal informed members that his ministry had approved the proposal to extend MDCAT results’ validity to three years. He said the matter had subsequently been referred to the federal cabinet.
The meeting was chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar.
PIMS audit demand sparks heated exchange
A separate exchange between the health minister and Dr Soomro over the inquiry report into the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) also marked the meeting, with the two trading heated remarks over the absence of further action.
Dr Soomro questioned the delay in implementing the findings of the PIMS inquiry and demanded an audit report detailing the utilisation of Rs22 billion provided to the hospital over the past three years.
Responding to her objections, Mustafa Kamal said the Ministry of Health had already implemented the recommendations of its own inquiry, while further investigations had been assigned to the Ministry of Interior.
Courts have already ordered refunds
The committee’s action follows court intervention on the same issue. The Lahore High Court has directed two private medical colleges to adjust or refund excess fees by November 29. Feature Pakistan reported that the court ordered UMDC Faisalabad to refund Rs841,317 per student and FMH Lahore Rs741,802 per student, against fee ceilings of about Rs2.03 million and Rs2.05 million.
The PMDC had earlier revised its fee structure, raising the ceiling from Rs1.8 million to about Rs1.89 million in March. The gap between the notified ceiling and what some colleges actually charge is now the focus of both the courts and parliament.
For students, the stakes are high. Medical education is among the most expensive in the country, and families often borrow or sell assets to pay fees. A charge of Rs600,000 above the approved fee is more than a year’s income for many households. The three-year validity of MDCAT results matters for the same reason: it would spare students the cost and stress of retaking the test every year if they miss a seat.
The issue also sits within a wider education and jobs picture. The Punjab Public Service Commission has announced 48 PMS posts for the 2026 competitive examination, Sindh has handed 750 schools to private operators, and the Pakistan Air Force has opened medical branch jobs for 2026. Graduates still face a hard market: a degree alone is no guarantee of work, as Feature Pakistan found in its report on the ticket to the unemployment queue.
What happens next
The committee will examine the inspection reports of the 45 colleges once the PMDC submits them. The show-cause notices will have to be answered, and the colleges face the prospect of refunds or penalties if the overcharging is confirmed. The proposal to extend MDCAT results’ validity to three years now rests with the federal cabinet. On PIMS, the audit of Rs22 billion spent over three years remains the outstanding demand.
Frequently asked questions
How many medical colleges are overcharging students?
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Health was told that 45 private medical colleges were charging students more than the officially prescribed fees, with some demanding as much as Rs600,000 extra.
What action has the PMDC taken?
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has issued show-cause notices to the colleges concerned. The committee has sought their inspection reports for the past two years.
How long will MDCAT results stay valid?
The Health Ministry has approved a proposal to extend the validity of MDCAT results to three years. The matter has been referred to the federal cabinet for approval.
What did the Lahore High Court order on medical college fees?
The court directed two private medical colleges to adjust or refund excess fees by November 29, ordering UMDC Faisalabad to refund Rs841,317 per student and FMH Lahore Rs741,802 per student.
What is the PIMS audit demand about?
Committee member Dr Shazia Soomro demanded an audit report on the utilisation of Rs22 billion provided to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences over the past three years. The health minister said further investigations had been assigned to the Interior Ministry.
