Hundreds of seats in medical and dental colleges across Pakistan have remained unfilled in the academic year 2025–26, highlighting a growing concern over declining student interest in the country’s healthcare education sector.According to official data, a total of 743 seats, including 608 in Bachelor of Dental Surgery and 135 in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programmes, could not be filled despite a 45-day extension in admissions and a reduction in merit requirements.

Across the country, more than 22,300 seats are available in 187 medical and dental institutions. However, admissions data shows that 381 seats remained vacant in Punjab, 295 in Sindh, 50 in Islamabad, and 17 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Authorities had reduced the minimum merit for MBBS admissions from 55 to 52 percent and for BDS from 50 to 47 percent in an effort to increase enrolment, yet the measures failed to fully address the shortfall. 

More than 140,000 students registered for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test, with around 90,000 declared successful. Despite this, a significant number of seats still remained unoccupied. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council had earlier recommended restrictions on the establishment of new medical colleges and additional seats, citing concerns over infrastructure and staffing capacity. The council also reported a shortage of more than 3,800 medical faculty members nationwide. 

Officials noted that against a requirement of 26,018 faculty members, only 22,146 are currently available, further stressing the system. Experts say that between 25,000 and 30,000 Pakistani students are currently pursuing medical and dental education abroad. They attribute the vacant seats to rising tuition costs, concerns over academic standards, and uncertainty regarding future career opportunities within the country.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)