The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Sukkur will now conduct the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), replacing individual universities in a major shift in the medical and dental college admission process.
The decision was taken during a Sindh Cabinet meeting on Thursday, which also discussed implementing a unified admission policy across all medical and dental colleges in the province.
Last year, MDCAT retake exam was successfully conducted across Sindh as per the directives of the Sindh High Court by IBA Sukkur.
A total of 38,684 candidates participated in the retake exam held simultaneously in six cities: Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, and Sukkur. Security and logistical support were provided by provincial and district authorities, along with agencies such as FIA and Intelligence Bureau (IB). IBA Sukkur ensured that foolproof arrangements were in place for the smooth conduct of the exam.
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According to a spokesperson for the Sindh chief minister, the new policy will apply equally to both public and private sector institutions, with the provincial Health Department continuing to regulate admissions.
At present, the public sector offers 2,550 MBBS and 500 BDS seats, while the private sector has 1,441 MBBS and 2,025 dental seats.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the change follows irregularities in the previous MDCAT. He emphasized that transparency and merit in the admission policy are the government’s top priorities.
