MDCAT integrity at stake: NA committee seeks transparency and fairness

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has raised serious concerns over reported irregularities in the 2024 MDCAT examination results.

The committee highlighted inconsistencies in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) results, particularly alarmed by the unusually high scores, with top students achieving 199 out of 200 marks. This unprecedented performance has raised questions about the integrity of the examination process and suggested potential discrepancies within the system.

During the meeting chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA, members emphasized that the credibility and fairness of the MDCAT are crucial for Pakistan's aspiring medical and dental students. The committee underscored the need to address the concerns of both students and their parents, particularly as the matter is currently under review by the Sindh High Court.

To restore confidence in the MDCAT process, the committee recommended several reforms, including making the complete FSC result a mandatory criterion for MDCAT eligibility. It suggested that all educational boards conduct their exams earlier, enabling students to sit for the MDCAT based on their final board results for more accurate assessments.

Additionally, the committee proposed that universities implicated in discrepancies should not be allowed to conduct the exam in the future. To prevent similar issues going forward, it recommended establishing a centralized committee responsible for creating the examination paper, with accountability measures in place for any errors or discrepancies.

Finally, the committee called for the implementation of IT-based systems to enhance the transparency and efficiency of the examination process. A detailed post-hoc analysis of MDCAT results from various universities revealed significant inconsistencies, particularly noted at UHS Lahore and DUHS Karachi, where the highest score recorded was 199.