The Lahore High Court has suspended a Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) notification concerning an increase in medical college fees. Justice Khalid Ishaq heard the petition filed by Central Park Medical College.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Ramzan Dhuddy, told the court that the college had charged students Rs2.1 million in admission fees, while PMDC had issued a notification allowing an annual 5 percent increase in fees.
The counsel further argued that PMDC did not have the legal authority to issue a notification increasing medical college fees. The petition also challenged a notification related to the collection of additional amounts based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
According to the petitioner’s position, changes to the fee structure should be made through the relevant legal framework and parliamentary legislation.
Separately, PMDC has withdrawn its earlier notification introducing a five-year BDS programme. Under the revised arrangement, BDS students will complete their academic education in four years, followed by one year of mandatory clerkship.
The council said students would not have to pay an additional year’s tuition fee for the clerkship. Institutions may decide whether to provide students with any remuneration during the clerkship.
PMDC has also withdrawn the BDS framework notification issued on July 8, 2026, and said a comprehensive review of the BDS academic structure, curriculum and house-job framework is underway.
