DT News - Pakistan - PMDC links MBBS, BDS tuition fee hike to CPI inflation: A decision with long-term consequences

Dental Tribune Pakistan

Tue. 29 April 2025

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ISLAMABAD: In a significant move for Pakistan’s medical and dental education sector, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has officially decided to link tuition fee hikes for MBBS and BDS programs to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate. According to the PMDC’s notification dated 29th April 2025, tuition fees for current academic year has been capped at PKR 1.8 million. However, the council has also approved a 5% increase in fees for Session 2025, with subsequent increases based on the CPI inflation rate from Session 2026 onwards.

The problem with linking tuition fees to CPI inflation

Over the last few years, Pakistan saw CPI inflation rates of 29.2% in FY 2022-23 and 23.41% in FY 2023-24, which significantly impacted everyday life. With this new policy, medical and dental colleges have been given the green light to hike tuition fees based on CPI inflation, meaning future fee hikes could be extreme if inflation spikes again.

It is obvious that PMDC has failed to take into account how volatile inflation can be. If Pakistan’s CPI inflation rate soars again, as it did in the previous fiscal years, the tuition fees for MBBS and BDS programs could rise dramatically. For example, with CPI inflation rates above 20%, medical and dental colleges would automatically increase tuition fees by a similar percentage, placing a heavy financial burden on students and their families.

How will students and parents afford it?

The biggest concern is how students and their families will manage these sudden, extreme tuition hikes. For many, these hikes could make medical and dental education unaffordable, especially when inflation rates continue to be unpredictable. If institutions are allowed to follow CPI inflation blindly, students may find themselves struggling to pay fees, while talented individuals may be excluded from pursuing their dreams of becoming doctors and dentists.

Will this policy help or hurt aspiring professionals?

This decision could widen the gap between those who can afford medical and dental education and those who cannot. Given that CPI inflation has already been volatile over the years, this policy risks turning essential medical education into an exclusive privilege for those who can keep up with skyrocketing fees. It is crucial to reconsider this approach and explore solutions that ensure education remains accessible to all qualified students.