The Punjab government has approved sweeping reforms in the healthcare and medical education sectors, marking a major step toward restructuring medical training and expanding access to quality healthcare. The reforms were finalized during a special meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, where new policies for medical and dental colleges were also approved.
Under the new framework, passing the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) has been made mandatory for all candidates seeking admission to government medical colleges. The government also introduced a standardized fee structure for children of overseas Pakistanis, who will now pay a $10,000 fee for the MDCAT.
To ensure transparency and financial accountability in private medical institutions, candidates named in private college merit lists will be required to deposit one-third of their annual fee with the University of Health Sciences (UHS). This payment will be transferred to the college only after the release of the final merit list, while the remaining fee will be paid directly to the institution.
In a significant shift for postgraduate medical education, the Punjab government has announced a compulsory service policy for doctors after completing postgraduate training in private hospitals. Additionally, trainee doctors will be assigned to relevant departments in private medical colleges to meet the growing demand for specialized practitioners.
Rather than constructing new medical colleges from scratch, the government will focus on adding medical blocks to existing universities—an approach aimed at expanding infrastructure cost-effectively.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz highlighted recent progress in Punjab’s healthcare system, celebrating milestones such as the first successful angioplasty performed at the Sahiwal Cardiac Centre. She directed Mayo Hospital to implement transparent procedures for its coablation center and approved the creation of management boards for several health institutions. The CM also urged for the early establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Medical City.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to equitable healthcare, CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized that all underprivileged patients must receive free treatment at public hospitals across the province.
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The new reforms signal Punjab’s drive to modernize medical education, strengthen healthcare delivery, and build a system where quality treatment is accessible to all citizens.