The Pakistani government has decided to impose a cap on tuition fees charged by private medical and dental colleges in an effort to make medical education more affordable, sources revealed.
Reports indicate that some institutions currently charge as much as Rs. 3.5 million per year, putting medical education out of reach for many aspiring students. To address this issue, the government is in the final stages of determining a new maximum fee limit, which will be set below the existing rates.
This move aims to ensure that quality medical education remains accessible while preventing excessive financial burden on students and their families.
Officials have stated that this decision aims to prevent uncontrolled fee hikes and ensure that quality medical education remains accessible to students from all backgrounds. The consultation process regarding the fee cap has been completed, and an official announcement is expected soon.
Earlier this year, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had already taken steps to regulate fee collection by private medical and dental colleges. The council issued notices to institutions, instructing them not to collect fees following recommendations from the Senate’s Health Subcommittee.
This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making medical education more affordable while maintaining academic standards and preventing financial exploitation of students.
A ban on fee collection was imposed until the Medical Education Committee, led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, submitted its recommendations. This committee was established under the Prime Minister’s directive to thoroughly review the issue and propose a fair and reasonable fee structure for private medical and dental colleges.
The government’s initiative aims to strike a balance between ensuring affordability for students and maintaining the financial sustainability of medical institutions while preventing unjustified fee hikes.