ISLAMABAD, The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has clarified that Pakistani citizens holding medical or dental degrees from institutions in Afghanistan will not be eligible to appear in the National Registration Examination (NRE), effectively preventing them from obtaining registration to practice medicine or dentistry in Pakistan.
The clarification came through a public notice issued by the PMDC, outlining updated guidelines for Pakistani students and graduates who have completed medical or dental education abroad.
According to the PMDC, all foreign medical and dental graduates must successfully pass the National Registration Examination (NRE) before they can be registered and licensed to practice in Pakistan.
However, eligibility for the examination is restricted to graduates whose institutions meet specific international recognition standards.
The council stated that only Pakistani nationals who have earned their primary medical or dental degrees from institutions recognized by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and who fulfill all other prescribed requirements will be allowed to take the NRE.
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PMDC noted that medical and dental institutions in Afghanistan are currently not included in the ECFMG’s recognized directory, making graduates from those institutions ineligible for the examination, PMDC registration, and professional practice in Pakistan.
The council said it has become aware that a significant number of Pakistani students are studying medicine and dentistry in Afghanistan.
In light of the latest policy, PMDC advised students currently enrolled in Afghan institutions, as well as those planning to seek admission there, to carefully consider the long-term professional implications before making academic decisions.
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PMDC emphasized that no exemptions, relaxations, or special permissions will be granted regarding the prescribed eligibility requirements.
The council said the public notice has been issued in the public interest to help students avoid future difficulties and to ensure they are fully informed about the regulations governing the recognition of foreign medical and dental qualifications in Pakistan.
