Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has set the maximum annual tuition fee for MBBS and BDS programs at Rs 1.89 million for the 2025–26 academic session, warning that private medical and dental colleges demanding higher fees will face suspension, withdrawal of accreditation, and legal action.
According to a notification issued on October 6, the PMDC has fixed the base tuition fee at Rs 1.8 million, allowing a five percent increase for the new session. Starting from 2026–27, subsequent annual increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate, based on recommendations from the Medical Education Committee formed by the Prime Minister.
The notification also requires all private medical and dental institutions to publicly display their approved fee structures at least three months before admissions begin. Any violation of this directive, or collection of charges beyond the approved ceiling, will be treated as a breach of Section 33 of the PMDC Act 2022 — an offense that can result in penalties ranging from suspension of admissions to legal proceedings.
A senior PMDC official told Vitals News that the move was prompted by widespread complaints from parents and students over what they described as “exorbitant and arbitrary charges” by private colleges. “This cap is meant to curb profiteering and restore fairness to medical education. The Council has received numerous reports of institutions collecting unapproved fees in the name of facilities, which will no longer be tolerated,” the official said.
Officials at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) confirmed that the decision followed consultations with the Medical Education Committee and had the endorsement of the Prime Minister’s Office. “Several parliamentarians had raised concerns about students being forced to pay inflated lab, library, and hostel fees. This decision directly addresses those complaints,” a senior ministry representative said.
Parents and lawmakers have long protested against what they see as unchecked commercialization of medical education, with some colleges allegedly demanding additional cash payments beyond declared tuition. The Senate Standing Committee on Health earlier this year also pressed for stronger oversight to make private medical education affordable and transparent.
“The Rs 1.89 million ceiling gives both students and parents financial predictability,” another PMDC official explained. “Private medical colleges cannot continue treating healthcare education as a money-making enterprise.”
The Council’s directive has been shared with all recognized private colleges, affiliating universities, and provincial health departments for strict enforcement. The PMDC has also instructed its IT and media divisions to upload the new fee schedule to its website and ensure wide public dissemination.
Students or parents who are charged beyond the approved limit have been urged to file complaints through the official PMDC online portal at pmdc.pk/ContactUs/Complaint.
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