Medical colleges in Pakistan are facing a serious problem. Even after extending admission deadlines by 45 days and lowering merit requirements, 743 MBBS and BDS seats remained vacant for the 2025-26 academic year.
Out of more than 22,300 total seats in 187 medical and dental colleges, 135 MBBS seats and 608 BDS seats could not be filled. Punjab has the highest number with 381 vacant seats, followed by Sindh with 295, Islamabad with 50, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 17.
Education experts and teachers’ associations say the main reason is rising tuition fees in private colleges. Many families can no longer afford the high cost of medical education. Inflation and possible new taxes on educational materials may make the situation even worse in the coming years.
Students are also showing less interest in dentistry (BDS) compared to MBBS. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had reduced the minimum marks from 55% to 52% for MBBS and from 50% to 47% for BDS, but this did not help fill all seats.
This crisis raises concerns about the future of medical education in Pakistan. Experts warn that without steps to reduce costs, fewer students will join the field, affecting the country’s healthcare system.
