Following a rise in cases of suicide and mental stress among medical students, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has made mental health screening protocols mandatory in medical colleges.
The council has issued directives to medical institutions, instructing them to take immediate measures to safeguard the mental well-being of both students and faculty.
According to the PMDC president, mental health assessments will be conducted at the time of admission and on an annual basis. Proper screening systems will be implemented to ensure early identification of mental health issues and timely treatment.
The PMDC further stated that it is now mandatory for institutions to establish Departments of Psychiatry and counselling sections. Students and teachers experiencing mental stress will be referred to qualified psychologists, while effective counselling and screening are expected to improve academic performance and professional capabilities.
The PMDC president also emphasised that institutions must provide confidential and high-quality psychological support with adequate facilities and staff. Immediate implementation of these measures has been ordered, and no delays will be tolerated.
PMDC announces new passing criteria for MDCAT
Previously, the PMDC announced a new passing criterion for the MDCAT examinations.
According to the notification issued by the department on April 8, the medical universities are allowed for a one-time reduction of passing marks up to 3 per cent for both the MBBS and BDS admissions.
The new passing percentage for the MDCAT will be as follows:
- For the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), it is 52 per cent
- For the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), it is 47 per cent
Additionally, the PMDC has allowed all the universities to reduce the passing criteria under these three conditions:
- Filling only the vacant seats for the academic session 2025–26
- Making sure of strict merit-based transparency and institutional accountability by the admitting universities
- Monitoring the admission process by the admitting universities for the vacant seats
The criteria will be applicable only to the admissions for the 2025-26 academic year.
Also read: PMDC imposes new conditions for MDCAT entry test 2026
