ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has officially set the maximum annual tuition fee for MBBS and BDS programs in private institutions at Rs1.89 million for the 2025-26 academic year, according to a report by The News on Wednesday.
The council has issued a stern warning to private medical and dental colleges, indicating that violations of this fee cap will result in severe penalties, such as the suspension of accreditation and legal proceedings.
A notification issued on October 6 clarified that the base tuition fee for MBBS and BDS programs is Rs1.8 million, with an allowable 5% increment for the 2025-26 session, bringing the total to the stated cap. Starting from the 2026-27 academic session, any subsequent annual fee increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate, a measure endorsed by the prime minister’s Medical Education Committee.
The directive mandates all private medical and dental institutions to publicly advertise the approved fee structure a minimum of three months before the commencement of admissions.
The notification further specifies that institutions found charging or advertising fees exceeding the sanctioned limit will be subject to action under Section 33 of the PMDC Act 2022. Potential consequences include the suspension of the college’s recognition and a ban on new admissions.
A senior PMDC official stated that this decision was prompted by “repeated complaints from students and parents” regarding exploitation by private colleges through exorbitant and undisclosed charges.
“The Council has taken a firm stance to protect students from commercialisation in medical education. The Rs1.8 million cap is meant to ensure fairness and accessibility,” the official remarked.
Federal health ministry officials confirmed that the decision was finalized in consultation with the Medical Education Committee and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHSR&C).
A source within the health ministry added that the Prime Minister’s Office had also received numerous representations from parliamentarians concerning arbitrary fees imposed by private colleges for various facilities like labs, libraries, and hostels.
This move addresses long-standing grievances from parents and students who have accused private medical institutions of “unregulated profiteering,” including demanding extra payments in cash or inflating ancillary charges. The issue had previously been taken up by the Senate Standing Committee on Health, which urged the PMDC to enforce transparency and affordability in medical education.
The notification has been disseminated to all recognized private and affiliating universities, provincial health departments, and the NHSR&C Secretary for implementation. The PMDC has also instructed its IT and media departments to publish the updated fee structure on its official website to ensure public awareness.
Students and parents facing overcharging are advised to submit formal complaints directly via the PMDC portal at pmdc.pk/ContactUs/Complaint.
