ISLAMABAD: Presiding over a post-examination analysis meeting focusing on the MDCAT 2023 in Islamabad, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj reviewed the overall conduct of the examination and discussed the challenges in result compilation, and evaluate the difficulty level of the test with the vice-chancellors of the exam-conducting varsities, asking them to take stern action against those involved in use of unfair means.
The meeting commenced with an in-depth review of individual exam questions, examining their level of difficulty and identifying any questions that may have appeared ambiguous or confusing. Feedback and concerns raised by the candidates were also taken into consideration.
During the discussions, it came to light that a few out-of-syllabus questions had surfaced in some provinces during the MDCAT exam. The PMDC president took immediate notice of this matter and directed VCs of all public universities to thoroughly review their question papers and rectify any discrepancies found at the earliest.
The PMDC head stressed the need for conducting universities to take stringent action and initiate inquiries against individuals involved in any form of cheating during the examination, provided there is substantial evidence. He stressed the paramount importance of transparency and urged swift resolution of all exam-related issues without undue delay.
He underscored the significance of the meeting in evaluating the effectiveness of the examination process and proposing necessary improvements.
During the course of the meeting, PMDC head expressed concern and sought clarification regarding media reports questioning the authenticity of the MDCAT paper.
The Vice Chancellor of Khyber Medical University (KMU) reported that out of 46,439 registered students, 45,640 appeared for the exam, while 799 were absent. He highlighted that during the examination, 219 students were caught using unfair means and appropriate legal action had been taken against these individuals. Security measures included four-layered security checks and thorough body searches, and the authorities had received prior intelligence about potential cheating devices.
The KMU clarified that certain videos circulating on social media were several years old and not related to the current examination, as no outdoor exams had been conducted by KMU.
The Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) VC reported that 40,528 candidates had registered from Sindh province, with a remarkable 98 percent turnout in four cities. To ensure secrecy, TCS was engaged to transport confidential examination materials to the venues. He noted that three cases of impersonation were identified, and FIRs had been filed against the perpetrators. He mentioned that complaints of paper leakage had been received four hours after the answer key was uploaded. A five-member inquiry committee, comprising officials from FIA and Cyber Crime, had been formed to investigate these complaints, and the results would be delayed until the inquiry was complete.
The representative of the Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences (BUMHS) reported that 9,234 students were registered, with a 97pc turnout, and no issues or complaints were reported during the exam. The exam was closely monitored by provincial ministers, judges, lawyers, and other officials to ensure its integrity.
The VC of University Health Sciences (UHS) shared that the MDCAT exam was successfully conducted in 11 different cities and 29 centres in the province. Out of 66,725 registered candidates, 65,226 appeared for the exam. After a thorough examination of the paper, it was decided to remove five questions, and full credit would be awarded to all candidates.
The PMDC president lauded the efforts of all vice-chancellors from the provincial exam-conducting universities for their remarkable contributions to conducting a smooth and transparent examination. He thanked all participants for their dedication and commitment to maintaining the integrity and quality of the exam.
It was agreed that all universities would promptly announce their results through their official websites, with links available on the PMDC website. Jinnah Sindh University would announce its results after the conclusion of the inquiry.
Subsequently, Caretaker Federal Minister for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C), Dr Nadeem Jan, convened a meeting with provincial health ministers and the PMDC head.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the MDCAT examination's conduct and emphasised the need to address all complaints seriously. He suggested implementing transparent and fair mechanisms, including the use of technology, to uphold merit in future MDCAT exams.
In total, approximately 187,000 students appeared for the MDCAT exam across national and international venues. The meeting was attended by vice chancellors of all provincial universities involved in exam conduct, including the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Khyber Medical University (KMU), Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Balochistan University of Medical and Health Sciences (BUMHS), and representatives from the PMDC examination department.
