In a recent development, concerns have raised regarding the substantial increase in fees at private medical colleges across Pakistan. According to gathered documents, a total of 75 private medical colleges and 43 private dental colleges operate in the country.
Breaking down the figures, Punjab hosts 45 private medical colleges, Sindh has 17, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 11, and there is one each in Balochistan and Azad Kashmir. Additionally, there are 43 private dental colleges, with 19 in Punjab, 12 in Sindh, and 6 in the federal territory.
The data reveals a growing trend in fee hikes, affecting 58 out of the total 75 private medical colleges in Pakistan. The increases range from 13% to a staggering 31% within a single year.
Regionally, Punjab boasts 28 private medical colleges, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh each have 10. The federal capital houses 7 private medical colleges, and there is one each in Balochistan and Azad Kashmir.
The fee increases have been most pronounced in Lahore and Faisalabad, where one medical college saw an annual fee surge of up to 800,000 Pakistani Rupees. Following closely, a medical college in Islamabad experienced an increase of over 600,000 Rupees.
Other regions have not been immune to these hikes. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a medical college witnessed an annual fee increase of up to 400,000 Rupees, while in Sindh, a private medical college recorded a 400,000 Rupees surge.
The data further discloses that private medical colleges in Sindh are collecting fees ranging from 7.4 million to 18 million Rupees. In Punjab, fees range from 8.7 million to 13.4 million Rupees, and in the federal territory, private medical colleges are receiving fees between 9.3 million and 11 million Rupees.
The situation has prompted the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to form committees with stakeholders to address the concerns.
