Over 2,000 foreign medical graduates have applied for the upcoming National Registration Exam (NRE), which is set to take place in two phases during June and July. Dr. Imdad Khushk, Registrar of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), revealed that with just one day remaining until the registration deadline, the number of applicants has reached 2,000.
The first phase of the NRE is scheduled for June 2, followed by the second phase on July 21–22. However, if needed, additional exam dates have been proposed for July 28–29 to accommodate all candidates.
According to Dr. Imdad, the PMDC Act mandates two NRE sessions annually, with sessions planned for June-July and November-December. The syllabus for the NRE was recently approved on April 30, 2024.
In a move to address concerns raised by lawmakers, the passing percentage for the exam has been reduced from 70% to 60%. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar emphasized the importance of maintaining the quality of medical education and stated that, despite calls for further reduction, lowering the passing marks to 50% would not be feasible.
Last year, around 10,000 medical and dental students graduating from local institutions were exempted from the NLE, a test previously mandated by the now-defunct Pakistan Medical Commission in 2020.
Discussions in the National Assembly also touched upon issues related to medical college admissions and the demand to reconsider the ban on new private medical colleges imposed by the caretaker government.
