ISLAMABAD The News said on Tuesday that if Pakistani students want to pursue medical and dental courses abroad, they must now get a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). This is a significant move.
The magazine was informed by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) that the PMDC is also thinking about “additional checks” to make sure Pakistani students are only taught in accredited educational facilities.
According to an NHSR&C official, the PMDC’s decision on the matter will take effect in the 2024 academic year, indicating that Pakistani students will no longer be permitted to pursue medical school abroad.
This development coincides with an increase in the number of students enrolling in educational institutions
The official went on to say that up to 3,000 students from Pakistan—30% of whom are women—travel abroad each year to pursue medical school. The majority of these students go to China, followed by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan in Central Asia.
For medical school, Pakistani students also go to Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran, and Eastern European nations like Romania, the official continued.
There are currently between 15,000 and 18,000 students studying medicine and dentistry overseas. Although official statistics are unavailable, it is estimated that $300 million is spent annually on these students’ education, with each family contributing between $5,000 and $6,000 annually.
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