The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday said any fee charged by private medical and dental colleges beyond the approved cap would be refunded to students or adjusted in the following academic year, reiterating that enforcement of the fee policy would continue across the country.

 

Speaking to reporters, PMDC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj said that the regulator remained committed to ensuring compliance with the recently agreed fee structure. PMDC Registrar Dr Rehan Asghar Naqvi was also present during the media interaction.

 

The clarification follows an agreement between the PMDC and the Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAMI) to cap annual tuition fees for private medical and dental colleges at Rs1.8 million. Under the agreement, institutions will be allowed a maximum increase of 5 percent for the 2025–26 academic session, while future adjustments will be linked to the Consumer Price Index.

 

According to the framework shared by the PMDC, the maximum profit margin permissible for private institutions will be 20 percent of revenue. Colleges will not be allowed to charge tuition fees exceeding the approved cap. Any amount charged beyond the limit without prior approval will invite regulatory action.

 

Dr Taj said the PMDC was monitoring private medical and dental colleges to ensure full implementation of the fee policy. Responding to concerns that some institutions were still charging fees above the cap, he said the regulator had taken notice of the issue. “Every aspiring student deserves access to medical and dental education,” he said.

 

He added that the council had repeatedly issued public notices and awareness messages advising students and parents not to pay any amount beyond the approved fee. Dr Taj said strict action had already been taken against institutions found in violation of the policy, including the issuance of show-cause notices to 12 medical and dental colleges.

 

He noted that some of the institutions had approached courts, making the matter sub judice. Despite the legal proceedings, he said an agreement had been reached with PAMI under which the institutions would withdraw litigation and provide relief to students.

 

Dr Taj said a follow-up meeting with PAMI was scheduled for later this month to review implementation of the agreement. During the meeting, a mechanism would be discussed for institutions seeking an enhanced fee cap of up to Rs2.5 million. He said any such request would require submission of detailed financial justifications to the PMDC.