Starting from the upcoming 2024 session, Pakistani students planning to study medicine and dentistry abroad must now obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). This new requirement aims to address concerns about students enrolling in foreign colleges and universities that may lack recognition in their respective countries.
Officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS, R&C) have indicated that additional measures are under consideration to ensure Pakistani students pursue their medical and dental education only at recognized institutions overseas. The PMDC Council has already mandated the NOC for all Pakistani students seeking to study medicine abroad, effective immediately.
In addition to China, which remains the top destination, Pakistani students also choose Central Asian countries, Afghanistan, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran, and Eastern European nations like Romania for their medical studies.
It is estimated that approximately 3,000 Pakistani students leave the country each year to pursue medical and dental education abroad. The initiative aims to uphold standards and protect students from enrolling in lower-quality educational institutions.
