PMDC Sets One-Month Window for MDCAT After FSC, Starting 2026

The shift is meant to speed medical admissions by cutting the long gap that fed costly coaching.

Overview

Pakistan’s medical regulator said the MDCAT will take place within one month of FSC exams, with the change applying to the 2026 cohort.
PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj said provincial authorities have cleared the revised timeline and stated they are ready to run the exam on schedule.
Separately, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the test would be held within six days of FSC results from 2027, a claim reported by some outlets but not aligned with the PMDC’s stated 2026 plan.
Students and education experts warned that a shorter gap may not leave enough time to switch from written FSC preparation to the MDCAT’s multiple-choice format, raising stress and performance concerns.
Officials argue the tighter schedule will undercut private coaching centres and lower out-of-pocket costs for families, a change that could affect more than 140,000 annual registrants based on last year’s national figures.