Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has informed the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday that 35 private medical and dental colleges have received authorization to collect up to Rs2.1 million in annual fees.
The statement came during a parliamentary session addressing a call to attention notice regarding rising tuition costs in medical education. MNAs Asia Naz Tanoli, Zahra Wadood Fatemi, and Huma Akhtar Chughtai submitted the notice, citing growing public concern over fee hikes across private institutions.
Kamal clarified that the government set a standard annual fee cap of Rs1.8 million for medical and dental colleges nationwide. He explained that a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar evaluated institutional expenses and educational standards before determining the fee limits.
According to the minister, Pakistan offers 22,000 medical seats nationwide. Private institutions hold 65 percent of these seats, while public sector institutions account for the remaining 35 percent.
He added that the ministry resolves all formal complaints filed against private colleges.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health Nelson Azeem explained that 61 private medical colleges filed appeals against the initial Rs1.8 million ceiling, claiming the cap hindered their ability to maintain educational quality.
Following an audit of the financial documents submitted by the institutions, the committee approved fee increases up to Rs2.1 million for 35 colleges.
During the session, MNA Asia Naz Tanoli raised concerns over payment structures, questioning why private institutions demand full annual tuition upfront rather than accepting installments. She noted that financial hurdles force many students to seek degrees abroad, where they face additional licensing examinations upon returning to Pakistan.
Addressing the issue of foreign degrees, he stated that Pakistani graduates face licensing requirements when moving abroad, justifying the local examination process for foreign-qualified doctors.
MNA Zahra Wadood Fatemi challenged the official figures during the debate. She pointed out that over 150,000 candidates compete for the 20,000 available seats each year. Fatemi alleged that despite official caps, certain private colleges collect unofficial payments ranging between Rs3.5 million and Rs4 million.
MNA Huma Chughtai added that short payment deadlines set by colleges create financial strain for families.
Addressing the quality of education, Kamal stated that 96,000 out of 143,000 candidates cleared the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) last year.
He noted that students enrolling in low-tier foreign colleges often face issues later, prompting the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to list recognized international institutions on its official website.
Kamal stated that international bodies recognize PMDC regulations and Pakistani medical degrees, maintaining global demand for doctors trained in the country. He reiterated that while the standard fee cap remains Rs1.8 million, specific high-expense institutions received permission to charge up to Rs2.5 million based on operational evaluation.
