PMDC Defers Implementation of Five-Year BDS Programme
Council withdraws its July 8 framework and begins comprehensive review of BDS academic structure, curriculum, House Job/Internship and implementation mechanism.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has withdrawn and deferred its earlier notification for implementation of the five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme, placing the proposed framework under comprehensive review.
According to a PMDC letter dated September 17, 2026, addressed to vice chancellors of all PMDC-recognised universities, the Council has withdrawn/deferred its July 8 notification concerning implementation of the five-year BDS programme.
The July framework envisaged five years of BDS education followed by one year of structured House Job/Internship. Contemporary reports on the July notification said universities prepared for the revised curriculum could begin implementation, while other institutions were allowed a transition period.
PMDC’s latest communication states that the BDS programme framework is now undergoing a comprehensive review, covering its academic structure, curriculum, structured House Job/Internship and implementation framework. The Council said further information would be communicated after the review is completed and considered by the Council.
Five-Year BDS Framework Remains Under Review
The development represents another turn in the debate over the duration and structure of dental education in Pakistan. PMDC had initially announced in November 2024 that BDS would be extended from four to five years, with the Council at the time arguing that the change would provide greater clinical exposure and improve the international recognition and competitiveness of Pakistani dental graduates.
The five-year framework was subsequently formalised through the July 8, 2026 communication, but the issue remained under discussion, including before the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.
Importantly, the September 17 letter itself describes the earlier notification as “withdrawn/deferred” and says the framework remains under review. Therefore, any final structure to replace the July framework should be treated as subject to PMDC’s subsequent formal directions.
PMDC’s own guidance states that the curriculum for MBBS and BDS programmes is formulated by the National Medical and Dental Academic Board and approved by the Council. It also says major curriculum changes generally apply to students admitted in the academic year following notification of those changes.
The latest decision affects PMDC-recognised universities and dental institutions across Pakistan, which will now await fresh instructions on the future structure and implementation of the BDS programme.
