Islamabad, Mar 18, 2025: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) Syndicate, in its 85th meeting on Monday, introduced revised academic policies for medical and dental students.
Led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, the meeting approved stricter attendance and passing criteria in line with the latest directives from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC). These updated regulations will be implemented from the 2024-25 academic session.
As per the new policy, students must maintain a minimum of 90% attendance to be eligible for annual exams.
Additionally, the passing percentage for professional examinations has been raised to 70%.
This change applies exclusively to students enrolling in MBBS and BDS first-year programs from the 2024-25 session.
Those already studying in medical and dental colleges under previous criteria will not be affected. Currently, the attendance requirement is 85%, and students need 50% marks to pass.
Apart from academic policy revisions, the Syndicate meeting also saw the appointment of Dr. Zahid Pervaiz as a member of the UHS Finance and Planning Committee.
Additionally, in response to the PM&DC’s recent notification, the MBBS seat capacity at two private institutions—Sahara Medical College, Narowal, and Sharif Medical College, Lahore—has been expanded from 100 to 150.
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The session was attended by Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Nadia Naseem, Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, and Registrar Kiran Fatima.
Other key participants, including Prof. Arshad Cheema and Prof. Maryam Malik, joined virtually alongside representatives from the Punjab Specialized Healthcare and Finance Departments.
These changes mark a significant step toward enhancing the quality of medical education in Pakistan, ensuring students meet higher academic and professional standards before entering the healthcare sector.
