Were private medical colleges given more seats than public institutions?

The council said the increase in seats was aimed particularly at improving access to medical education for students from underserved and less-developed areas. It said expanding educational opportunities could also help reduce the need for Pakistani students to travel abroad to pursue medical education.

The PMDC rejected the impression that private medical colleges had been allocated more seats than public-sector medical colleges., both public and private medical and dental institutions are subject to the same regulatory standards when seats are approved. The council said its primary objective was to ensure the availability of quality educational and clinical facilities at medical and dental institutions.

It stressed that patient safety and the quality of medical education would remain key considerations in the approval and allocation of seats. The PMDC said no compromise would be made on the standards of medical education or patient care while expanding opportunities for students.

The clarification comes amid discussion over the distribution of seats between public and private medical institutions and the regulatory criteria used for approving additional seats. The council maintained that decisions regarding seat approvals are based on applicable legal and regulatory requirements rather than the public or private status of an institution.

The PMDC said efforts to expand medical education should also be accompanied by adequate academic infrastructure, teaching facilities and clinical resources to ensure that students receive appropriate training.