A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health was held in Islamabad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, where lawmakers held detailed discussions on a private member’s bill seeking to curb vaping among minors and reviewed the admission policy of medical colleges.
During deliberations, Senator Sarmad Ali expressed strong displeasure at the response submitted by the Ministry of Health on his proposed bill aimed at banning vaping for children under 18 years of age.
“It makes you want to bang your head after reading the ministry’s response,” he remarked, adding that technical issues in the draft had already been addressed in consultation with the Director General Health. He said he had spent six months working on the bill and was now reintroducing an earlier version that specifically proposed a ban for minors.
Sarmad Ali questioned the rationale behind opposing the move, arguing that tobacco products remain legal while efforts are being made to restrict vaping. Drawing a comparison, he said, “We banned alcohol in 1977, but is it not still consumed at parties and in homes today?”
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal responded that the government was prepared to answer all concerns raised by the committee. He urged lawmakers not to link the issue with tax-related matters, saying, “Do not take out the displeasure of the FBR on us.”
The minister noted that vaping has been banned in 47 countries, while others have opted for strict regulation. “We are of the opinion that it should be regulated, as many countries have done,” he said, adding that vaping has become fashion among youth and that the country lacks a domestic industry, resulting in foreign exchange outflows.
He also pointed out that children often use vaping devices openly, underlining the need for effective regulation.
The committee also reviewed the admission criteria of medical colleges under the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC). Officials briefed the panel that 50 percent weightage is allocated to the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), while the remaining 50 percent is based on academic performance in intermediate examinations.
Committee members questioned the heavy reliance on MDCAT, noting that many renowned Pakistani doctors established their reputations long before the test was introduced. “MDCAT was introduced recently,” members observed, adding that they were not opposed to the exam itself but wanted its mechanism reviewed.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal agreed that the concerns were valid, stating that students who prepare properly should not face difficulty in clearing the test. However, he acknowledged that matriculation and intermediate results have been a cause for concern.
Senator Anusha Rehman pointed out that despite securing required marks, many students are unable to gain admission due to financial constraints. Members proposed reducing the MDCAT weightage from 50 percent to 30 percent to create a more balanced system.
Senator Rubina Khalid said the current structure risks marginalizing underprivileged students. “We have closed the way for the poor. A rich man’s child will study, while a poor child will not be able to,” she remarked.
Senator Agha Shahzeb sought clarification on the basis for fixing MDCAT’s weightage at 50 percent. During the discussion, the registrar of PM&DC was unable to provide a detailed response, prompting Rubina Khalid to comment that officials should have come prepared.
The meeting concluded with the committee seeking further clarification from the ministry and relevant authorities on both the vaping bill and the medical admission policy.
Concerns Over Vacant Medical Seats
The committee expressed serious concern over unfilled medical college seats in Sindh and Punjab and called for urgent reforms in the admission and fee structure.
During the meeting, the chairman noted that several medical college seats in Sindh and Punjab remain vacant, attributing the issue to the high weightage assigned to MDCAT by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). He said many students could not secure admission due to the stringent criteria.
Senator Anusha Rehman demanded the introduction of a supplementary facility in the MD-CAT examination, arguing that it is unfair for a student to lose an entire academic year due to missing the passing threshold by just one mark.
“It is very sad that a child loses a year because of one mark,” she said, urging authorities to revisit the current system.
Chairman Chishti proposed that the MDCAT passing marks be fixed at 33 percent and recommended that the committee issue formal instructions to PMDC in this regard.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal responded that PMDC would submit a detailed report to the committee on the criteria and passing marks for MDCAT. He acknowledged the concerns raised by members and assured that the matter would be reviewed.
However, the minister pointed out that the country has a limited capacity to enroll medical students. “Every year, you cannot admit more than 22,000 students,” he said, highlighting infrastructure and faculty constraints.
The committee also voiced concern over the high tuition fees being charged by private medical colleges. Chairman Chishti said some institutions are charging up to Rs3 million annually, despite a government-appointed special committee having earlier fixed the fee at Rs1.8 million.
He stressed that PMDC should take notice of the excessive fees and ensure compliance with the government’s directives to make medical education more accessible.
The meeting concluded with the committee seeking a comprehensive report from PMDC on admission policies, passing marks and the fee structure, signaling the possibility of further action to address students’ concerns.